BIG BROTHER STARGAME HOUSEMATE PROFILES

Barbz from South Africa (34).

Roki from Zimbabwe (27).

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UPVILLE
BARBZ
Age:               34
Country:         South Africa
Babalwa entered Big Brother StarGame because she loves competing in challenges, both physical and intellectual. The model, events manager and hair salon boss from King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape says the fact that she will be pushed to the limit in the house excites her and that she loves winning – “losing ain’t for me!” she says.

Barbz is single and says that she won’t sell her morals short for money – viewers shouldn’t expect any hanky panky from her in the house, but she’s game for anything else! She loves samp & beans with oxtail and her favourite books are “Nice Girls Don’t Get Rich” and “The Secret”. She enjoys most reality TV – she’s a huge Big Brother fan – and also likes watching news channels like CNN and Al Jazeerah.
She says her favourite places in the world outside of her home country are Miami and Lagos – the former for the parties, nice people and great shopping and the latter for the “fun”.

Barbz is inspired by a lot of people, but picks her Mom as the most influential because she moulded her into the person she is today. She says her parents influenced her life most because they made sure she went to good schools and their strict nature kept her out of trouble. The qualities she likes most in other people are respect, openness, friendship and “people with backbone” while she dislikes lies, false accusations, bad-mouthing, laziness and spitefulness. She entered Big Brother StarGame to market her brand and her business, to create awareness around xenophobia and to spread love amongst Africans.

DKB
Age:               26
Country:         Ghana
Comedian, TV presenter, event organizer and talent manager DKB hails from Accra. He entered Big Brother StarGame because it’s a platform for people from different cultures and socialization to meet and bring the best out of themselves. He describes himself as sociable, kind, trustworthy, entertaining and adaptable and promises viewers “non-stop entertainment”.
DKB’s role model is Tyler Perry because of the way he’s used his talent to empower black people. He says his Uncle has had the biggest influence on him “because he has taught me how to be a responsible man”.
His favourite part of Ghana is the Cape Coast, while the best thing about Africa is the culture. He’s a huge fan of Ice Cube and Tyler Perry and enjoys the music of Sarkodie, M.I.m Jay-Z, Eminem, HHP, Busta Rhymes, Usher and Freshlyground.
If he wins Big Brother StarGame, DKB would use the grand prize money to improve his life and that of his family. He would also start a business and create a charity investment that would sustain the outreach for a very long time. He hopes that participating in Big Brother will better his interpersonal relations with people from other parts of Africa and boost his image as a formidable showbiz personality.

GOLDIE
Age:               28
Country:         Nigeria

Goldie is a musician and singer from Lagos, Nigeria who is hoping to use her innate generosity, humility, culinary abilities, style and kind heart to win Big Brother StarGame. Promising that viewers can expect “never a dull moment”, she hopes to use the game as a learning experience and a personal challenge.

When she’s not performing, Goldie loves reading books, watching Manchester United, playing console games and Scrabble – as well as sewing, knitting, drawing and designing. She likes Mills & Boon novels and supernatural romance books and likes watching E! Entertainment, Sky News and the Crime & Investigation channel. Asked about her favourite musicians, she says “myself, thank you very much!” before including Madonna, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Adele, 2Face, D’Banj and PSquare.

She says her favourite place in Nigeria is Lagos State because there’s so much to do there - there’s always somewhere to go, something to do and lots of friends to be made. The best thing about Africa? The diversity, warmth of the people and “our friendliness”. Outside of Africa, she likes visiting the UK because she spent time there at school and there’s always so much to do.

Her role model is her mother, who she describes as “the kindest, sweetest, most hard-working woman I know”. She is influenced by “any strong, confident, hard-working woman who breaks boundaries with her work and passion”, citing Oprah, Madonna and her mother as examples. She’s a fanatical Big Brother follower and lists Uti, Richard, Tatiana and Karen as her favourite housemates from past seasons. 

LADY MAY
Age:               25
Country:         Namibia

Lady May is an award-winning musician who can’t wait to have Africa’s eyes on her 24/7 on Big Brother StarGame. She sums up what viewers can expect from her in one word: “excitement!”. Lady May says she doesn’t let anyone or anything bring her down and loves people who pick themselves up from life’s knocks and never give up.

She entered Big Brother StarGame for the opportunity to meet diverse characters and come face-to-face with different, unique challenges. Lady May feels that the house “brings Africa together”. She has watched previous seasons of the show and lists Stefan Ludik and Cherise as her favourite former housemates. If she wins the grand prize, she’ll spend some of it on ‘making over’ her teeth and invest the rest wisely. She says her “not so perfect” teeth affects her smile and confidence and that giving herself a perfect smile would make her dreams come true.

She is proud to have won both Namibian and continental awards for her music, including “Best Dance” awards at the Channel O African Music Video Awards in 2007 and 2008. She is influenced by her own journey through life as “every single day I am always looking forward to living life”.  Her role model is her Grandmother, who taught her “awesome traditional values”.

Her favourite place in Namibia is her home village, Olunghono, while outside Africa, she enjoyed Berlin, where she had the opportunity to perform. Lady May says that the best thing about Africa is how all nations are accommodated. She has a younger brother, and also a child of her own.

MAMPI
Age:               25
Country:         Zambia

Zambian R&B star Mampi has made her intentions for Big Brother StarGame clear: “nothing will stop me from getting what belongs to me – I am going all-out”. The “Queen Diva” from Lusaka was inspired to enter Big Brother by her fans. “They know what I’m capable of doing and they know I am a go-getter who will raise my Zambian flag colours high,” she says. She is looking forward to having Africa’s eyes on her 24/7, where she’ll show the continent how much of an entertainer she is.

Mampi says the best thing about Africa is that it’s a beautiful and rich continent with friendly and cultured people. Her favourite place in Zambia is the Victoria Falls, because she thinks it’s beautiful and finds the water relaxing. Outside of her home country, she enjoys going to France, saying that it’s a fun place to go on holiday. She sees her father as her role model, because he made her a strong, courageous, stubborn and successful woman. She cites God as a major influence in her life because he always delivers when she prays over something with all her heart.

Describing herself as spontaneous, unpredictable, sexy and as a diva, Mampi likes good listeners and people who are friendly, funny and free-spirited. She dislikes people who brag about nothing and those who think they are better than others. She says that viewers can expect to see her involved in drama, commotion, flirting and dancing while she admits that she has a low tolerance for nonsense.

Mampi’s favourite food is nshima with beef and okra, she likes reading the Bible and “Gifted Hands” and enjoys watching “Stricty Come Dancing”, “Idols”, and “Life in the Fast Lane with Kimora Lee Simmons”. Her favourite musicians are Beyonce, Witney Houston, D’Banj, 2Face, Neyo and Trey Songs.

PREZZO
Age:               32
Country:         Kenya

Musician Prezzo was inspired to enter Big Brother StarGame because he sees it as a great challenge. He says he is looking forward to being on Africa’s TV screens 24/7 because he loves attention. He hasn’t really seen much of previous seasons of the show and says that if he wins the grand prize, he’ll “cross that bridge when we get to it”.

He says he hardly watches any TV but enjoys movies like “Scarface” on the big screen, listing Al Pacino and Mos Def as his top actors. He’ll eat just about anything – except pork – and his favourite book is “48 Laws of Power”.

His favourite place in Kenya is Nairobi and doesn’t have a favourite place outside of Kenya: “East, West, home is best”, he says. His role model is Barack Obama because he believed in himself and made the impossible, possible. He is hugely influenced by his mom because he understands that it’s not easy to be a single parent. The achievement he’s most proud of is his musical career, because of the heights he has attained.

Describing himself as cool, calm and collected, Prezzo says his favourite quality is his ability to entertain people around him. He says that respect is the most important trait in another person and says that viewers should expect the unexpected from him. “Remember that I am an entertainer so they should expect anything and everything,” he says.

ROKI
Age:               27
Country:         Zimbabwe

Harare-born Roki is a musician who describes himself as creative, quick, attentive, productive and soft. He has been told that his soft heart will be his downfall, but he reckons “it’s just easier to let go of stuff”. He likes caring, hard-working and clever people and dislikes people who are lazy and heartless.

He promises viewers entertainment and says that his family is behind him 100%. If he wins the grand prize, he’d follow his dream and go to Hollywood. Apart from the money and exposure, he’s hoping to open his mind by taking part in Big Brother StarGame and also develop his understanding of all Africa. His favourite Big Brother Housemate from previous seasons is Vina.

He cites Steven Spielberg as his role model “because he’s an audio-visual genius” and says his mother has had a huge influence on him because of her endurance. He is a middle child, with 2 sisters, one older and one younger, and says his biggest achievement so far is winning an award for his music in 2008.

Roki lists his favourite TV show as “Friends”, his favourite musician as Thomas Mapfumo” and his favourite actors as Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt. His favourite films are “Pulp Fiction”, “The Lord of the Rings”, and “The Matrix”.



DOWNVILLE
Seydou - Angola
Age: 26

Entrepreneur Seydou entered Big Brother StarGame “for the money and the game as a whole”. He says he is willing to do everything to win the grand prize and says, “I am a delivery man – I will make it happen!”

Seydou lists his favourite foods as steaks, seafood and carbonara. His favourite books are the Harry Potter series and Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons. On the small screen, his favourite show is Chelsea Lately while his list of favourite movies includes Titanic, The Hangover, Pearl Harbour and Any Given Sunday. He says the best place in Angola is the beach in Luanda and says he enjoys the people and the warmth of Africa.

Seydou’s role model is Barack Obama, “because he is a successful black man and I aspire to be like him”. He has 3 brothers and a sister and says his Grandmother has played a big role in his life, making him the man he is today. The achievement he is most proud of is graduating from University, “because despite what some thought, I made it without failing”.

He describes himself as outgoing, charming, intelligent, open-minded and “a hunk” and says his intelligence helps him get through things. The traits he favours in others include intelligence and honesty, but he dislikes fake people and people who smoke around him.


ESPERANCA – ANGOLA
Age: 24

Former M-Net Face of Africa Model Search Top 10 Finalist Esperanca loves pizza, “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, “America’s Next Top Model”, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys and horror movies. Her role model is Naomi Campbell, because she’s always admired her work – and people have told her that they look alike. Her mom has been a huge influence in her life, supporting her in everything she does.

She entered Big Brother StarGame because she’s always wanted to be in the house and would be proud to represent Angola. She says it’s also a great opportunity for exposure – and the grand prize money doesn’t hurt either!

Describing herself as outgoing, a ‘people’s person’, decisive, and friendly, she cites her determined nature – which allows her to make sure she gets what she wants when she sets her sights on it – as her favourite quality. She dislikes dishonest people and promises viewers that they can expect fun, laughter and drama from her.

Her favourite place in Angola is Mussulo, a beautiful, exotic island across from Luanda – also a great spot for fishing. Esperanca says the best thing about Africa is our wild animals – the Big 5 in particular – and the exotic mountains. Outside of her home country, her favourite place is Mombasa: “The Indian Ocean blows you away, the weather is fantastic, the food is amazing and the people are very humble,” she says.


EDITH – BOTSWANA
Age: 30

Edith, a Personal Assistant from Francistown, entered for Big Brother StarGame at the insistence of her friends, who told her she is fun to be around and would make a good Housemate. She says that the opportunity to partner with her sister Eve on the show makes them both feel like stars. Edith says she knows her sister like the back of her hand and chose her because “with her sense of fun and my wild character, we are bound to blast the competition!”

She won’t be compromising who she is to win the grand prize, though. “I will not put on a fake ‘Edith’ just to win,” she says. She is looking forward to being on screen across the continent and is excited at the chance to become a household name across Africa. She warns viewers to expect her to “bring all the fun back” and says that if she wins, she will use her money to build her deaf and mute sister a house.

Edith describes herself as energetic, fun, adventurous and crazy and says the best thing about her is that she is a free spirit. She dislikes two-faced people and finds loyalty in others most admirable.

She likes eating steak with chilli gravy and pap and her favourite book is The Lady, her lover and the Lord by TD Jakes. She enjoys watching Ugly Betty and Keeping Up with the Kardashians and her favourite movies are Good Deeds and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. She says she is a big Tyler Perry fan because she can relate to his movies and because the message depicted is what’s happening in reality.

EVE - BOTSWANA
Age: 25

Eve – sister to partner Edith – has a National Diploma in Marketing Management. Her favourite foods are fish, chicken and vegetables and she enjoys a variety of music – everything from Michael Buble to Kid Rock and Seal to Jason Mraz. She likes watching Angelina Jolie and Zoe Saldanha on the big screen and is a big fan of Tyler Perry movies.

Her favourite place in Botswana is the Chobe region and she rates the peace, solitude and togetherness of Africa as her favourite aspects of the continent. Outside of her home country, she says Italy is her favourite place in the world “because it is so romantic”.

Eve’s role models are her parents – her mother because she’s the strongest woman she’s ever met and her father because he is determined. Her mom had a particularly big influence on her because she pushed her to go the extra mile. The achievement in life she’s most proud of is her acquaintance with God because it has given her a different perspective on life.

She was inspired to enter Big Brother StarGame because she loves a challenge. She is excited to be competing along with her sister because she has known her just about her entire life and knows they’re compatible. She promises to go “all out” to win the grand prize and is “ecstatic” that all eyes will be on her. She loves being in the spotlight and says her family will be incredibly supportive of her appearance in the House.

KEITTA – GHANA
Age: 22

Keitta is a model, who hails from Accra. He was inspired to enter Big Brother StarGame by the challenge of living with different people and cultures. He was also interested to see how he would be able to stay in the house – and of course he has an eye on the money too! He’s not worried about having Africa’s eyes on him 24/7 and looks forward to challenging the different points of view of everyone on the continent. If he wins the grand prize, he’ll start his own entertainment company to boost the Ghanaian and African music and fashion industries.

Keitta describes himself as patient, kind, energetic and daring and thinks the best part of his personality is his ability to be patient and laid-back at certain times. He likes people who tell the truth and dislikes people who do things slowly, who don’t make their point and who lie. He’s on the show to get African recognition for his modeling career and his favourite previous Housemate is Karen, because she is “daring, and smart”.

His dad is a major influence on his life, teaching him respect, discipline, and kind-heartedness. He says the best thing about Africa is the unity of the people and says his favourite place outside of Ghana is the Ivory Coast, because the people are lovely and there are beautiful places to hang out.

MILDRED – GHANA
Age: 25

Accra-based Mildred is a musician, with a Professional Certificate and Advanced Qualification in Marketing. She entered Big Brother StarGame to take up the challenge of living with people, learning new cultures and lifestyles, building on her personality and winning the money – plus gaining African recognition. She doesn’t mind having the whole continent watching her as she is a celebrity in Ghana, so she’s used to it.

Her favourite former Housemate is Abby from Season 1. If she wins, she’ll spend the money on building her music career and push it further to all countries on the continent. She’s hoping to gain exposure from the Big Brother StarGame experience – and also learn from the different personalities in the House.

Mildred describes herself as energetic, bubbly, determined, vibrant and tolerant – and likes humour and understanding in others. She says that her tolerance and vibrancy are her favourite traits – but she loves her physical looks and qualities too.

Her mom has been a huge influence on her life because she guides her with good decisions and advice. She likes to eat jollof rice with fried ripe plantain and fufu with light soup and goat meat. Her favourite TV shows are Things Fall Apart and The Vampire Diaries and she likes listening to Chris Brown, Usher, Rihanna, Beyonce and Kelly Rowland. Mildred’s favourite movies are Pearl Harbour, Sarafina and Diary of a Mad Back Woman and her favourite actors are Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston and Josh Hartnett.

MALONZA – KENYA
Age: 22

Malonza is a student from Machakos, studying towards a KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education). He is single, enjoys watching Jacob’s Cross, Big Brother and Modern Family and his favourite musicians include Chris Brown, Santi Sol and Camp Mulla. His favourite actor is Johnny Depp and his all-time favourite movies include Real Steel and Tears of the Sun.

He says the best thing about Africa is its wonderful people, beautiful land and bountiful natural resources. His favourite place in Kenya is Mombasa – “sun and sand are my thing” – and outside of Africa, Dubai “because of the way they have taken their country to a whole new level with development and diversity of economic resources”.

Malonza’s role model is his mother: “ever since I was young she has been there for me, provided for me and taught me to be who I am today – a great, loving caring person”. The achievement he is most proud of so far in his life is making it into the Big Brother StarGame – he was inspired to stretch himself and find his limits. “I’m tired of being a groupie and I want to be the star,” he says.

He says of his Big Brother StarGame partner Mugachia “he is my blood brother. I chose him because I felt that he was the only one on my level that I could relate to well. Plus, family always comes first.” Malonza can’t wait to see what it’s like to have Africa’s eyes on him 24/7: “I love attention and I live my life knowing that people will always have eyes on me”.

ALEX– KENYA
Age: 23

Alex is a student from Kiambu, currently studying towards a degree in Computer Science – and he already has a Diploma in Business and Communication Technology under his belt. His favourite foods are nyama choma and roasted meat & fries and his favourite book is The Secret. He likes watching Medical Detectives on TV and listening to Adele. His favourite actor is Leonardo DiCaprio.

Alex’s role model is Steve Jobs, for his determination to bring a new era in the field of technology. His mother has had a huge influence on his life because she does a lot for the family and “no matter how much we have annoyed her, she still loves us!”. The achievement he is most proud of is being part of Kenya’s 2010 Referendum where he worked as a data agent and helped make a change in his country.

He was inspired to enter Big Brother StarGame by his brother – and game partner – Malonza. “I found Big Brother will be an opportunity to bond with him,” he says. Asked about how he feels knowing Africa will be watching him 24/7, he says “it’s amazing, particularly knowing my friends will be watching. The energy builds up when you are yourself and that’s how you’ll get the votes,” he says.

Alex describes himself as caring, patient, jealous, determined and strict and thinks his best trait is his ability to socialise with people and make friends with strangers. He dislikes corruption, people who complain but never do anything and back-stabbers. He says he will be using Big Brother StarGame as a chance to meet new people in the House and understand what they do.

LUKE - LIBERIA
Age: 26

Luke entered Big Brother StarGame for the glitz, glamour and the impact he hopes it will have on his life. The only thing he’s not willing to do to win the grand prize? “Lose it! I’ll have fun all the way and head to the grand prize – and then cling to it,” he says. He says he already feels like a superstar at the mere prospect of having the continent watching his every move.

Luke considers himself to be able to make people laugh, blend in anywhere and also thinks he’s good at chatting to people. He says that viewers can expect lots of laughs, great entertainment and check out a “real player”. Luke’s family are very supportive of his participation on Big Brother StarGame and if he wins the grand prize, he’ll start a real estate business, a transport service, a security firm and a movie production and advertising company.

He’s looking forward to partnering with good friend Yadel on the show and says that the chance to work as a pair is going to make the game more challenging and intriguing. He describes their relationship as “strictly friends – nothing more or less”. He says that Yadel is an incredible person who is outspoken and ingenious.

Luke loves football – he’s a Barcelona fan – and boxing. His favourite foods are cassava leaves and fried greens; he loves listening to the music of Michael Bolton, Usher, Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson and likes action, horror and thriller movies. He lists his father as his role model, because “he is a very austere and ambitious man and a humanitarian”.

YADEL - LIBERIA
Age: 22

5’2” Yadel is living proof that dynamite comes in small packages! She says she’ll do anything – except ungodly things – to win the grand prize on Big Brother StarGame and was inspired to enter by her passion for the show and the opportunity to make her country proud. She is looking forward to competing with Luke. She says she chose to play the game with him because they have a lot in common – both are smart, ambitious, fun, understanding and happy people. As a fan of Big Brother, she’s watched the previous seasons with great interest and lists Wendell as one of her favourite former housemates.

Describing herself as outspoken, fun, opinionated and competitive, she enjoys having great conversations, loves to dance and says she is a great actress. She likes smart people, daredevils and good looking people! She’s not a fan of dirty bathrooms, bad breath, tasteless food, arguments over nothing and annoying people.

By participating in the game, Yadel is hoping to experience life and cultures of different people from around Africa and is looking forward to being on TV. If she wins the grand prize, she’ll build her parents their dream house, give her siblings whatever they want and invest in real estate back home.

She says her mother inspires her to be a better person and acts as her guardian angel. She’s most proud of being nominated as “Best Female Entertainer” in Liberia for the African and American Women Concert and says the best thing about the continent is the natural resources and the people and their cultures.

NAFE – MALAWI
Age: 22

Nafe is an Assistant Administrator from Lilongwe who entered Big Brother StarGame at the insistence of his cousin Wati – who will also be his partner in the game. “My cousin encouraged me and the prize motivated me!” he says. He says the idea of partnering up is a fun and unique way of adding more entertainment to the Big Brother game and he’s looking forward to participating with Wati because they have been like brothers since they were born.

Nafe promises to do “anything and everything” to win the grand prize – and if he does, he’ll donate most of his winnings to charity and invest the rest. He’s hoping to make new friends, learn about the different nationalities of the continent and gain a new understanding of other African countries. His family supports him in his quest to bring home the grand prize and they think it’s a wonderful opportunity for him.

He describes himself as outrageous, outgoing and passionate and loves to go places and try new things. He says he’s not easily angered and gets along with most people – except those who are annoying and stubborn.

Nafe says his parents are his role models because they taught him that anything is possible if you put your mind and heart into it. He also says they inspire him to do what he desires. His favourite movies are Batman Begins and Transformers and he enjoys music by Young Money, Chris Mack, Rebelmusiq the Beatmaker and Rick Ross.

WATI - MALAWI
Age: 22

Wati entered Big Brother StarGame, based on his family and friends’ trust that he can entertain with good, clean fun. He says the change to allow pairs to compete in the game is unfair to the other Housemates, as he and partner Nafe “are gonna kill it”. Wati and Nafe are cousins and he thinks they’ll do well in the game because they’re the “new face of Malawi” and they have a bond and trust that can never be broken.

He is hoping that by entering Big Brother StarGame, his personality will be known throughout the world. If he wins, he will create a self-sustaining industry that would directly help surrounding areas. Wati says that viewers can expect him to be entertaining and charming, describing himself as passionate, consistent, creative, spontaneous and Malawian. He says his tolerance for different personalities is his favourite personal quality. 

Wati enjoys eating spare ribs, prawns, lobster and crayfish. He likes reality TV including Modern Marvels, Pawn Stars and Kitchen Nightmares which are amongst his favourite shows. His favourite films are Transformers 3, SAW 7 and Inception and he likes listening to Trivium, System of a Down, Killswitch Engage, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Rick Ross.

He says the best thing about Malawi is Lake Malawi – Mangochi. The cultural diversity of Africa inspires him and he lists Malaysia as his favourite place outside of home. Wati’s role models are his parents and Santiago Calabrava – the former for being able to take nothing and turn it into ‘gold’ and the latter for his architectural genius. His biggest influences are his parents, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein.


JESICA – NAMIBIA
Age: 21

Third-year Human Resources student Jesica says her favourite place in Namibia is Windhoek, because “you have a life there – you may go out and mingle as much as you want”. She says the best thing about Africa is that “it’s real – you don’t come across fakeness” and her favourite place outside of Namibia is New York because if she lived there, she would have “had a lot of money and been famous by now”.

She entered Big Brother StarGame with her friend Junia because she is “a very flexible, fun and loving person. She doesn’t take nonsense from anyone, so don’t mess with her!” she warns. Jesica says she is fine with knowing that Africa will be watching her as she has no choice! If she wins the grand prize, she will give back to her community in her hometown of Karasburg – and buy herself a house and a car. She hopes to gain exposure from appearing on the show so that when she is finished with her studies, it’ll be easier since people know her.

Jesica describes herself as flexible, fun, smart, friendly and straight-forward. She dislikes people who are rude and disloyal, expecting them to be honest and friendly. The thing she likes most about herself is that she is honest, generous and friendly “at the same time”.

Her favourite actors are Gabrielle Union and Zac Efron and she enjoys the music of Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj and Beyonce. Her favourite book is The Day
Called Him Father and her favourite TV show and movies include Keeping Up with the Kardashians, The House Bunny and Storm the Yard.

JUNIA – NAMIBIA
Age: 23

Receptionist and student Junia is from Windhoek and is really looking forward to playing Big Brother StarGame with her friend Jessica. “She’s fun and crazy, I like the way we get along and she stands up for herself – I like that,” she says. She’s looking forward to the partnering aspect of the game because she likes team work and calls the twist “an awesome idea”.

She describes herself as fun, loving, hard-headed and phenomenal and enjoys the fact that she’s easy-going and understanding – and “a very hard cookie to crack”. She dislikes liars and people who try to insult her intelligence.

Junia likes watching soapies, clubbing and chilling and says she is inspired to “push harder” by the fact that she grew up in a single-parent home. Asked about her favourite food, she says “I eat everything – I love food!” Her favourite book is Act like a woman, think like a man by Steve Harvey, her favourite TV show is Nip/Tuck and she enjoys listening to Brandy, Whitney Houston, Rihanna and Chris Brown.

She entered Big Brother StarGame because she came close to making it on the show last season, which made her want to try harder this time around. Her favourite former housemate is Karen “because she was crazy and she made it so much fun to watch – she deserved to win” and she says that if she wins the grand prize, she would expand her mother’s house and give something back to the place where she grew up.

OLA – NIGERIA
Age: 29

Lagos resident and interior designer Ola Bakare is an impressive 6’9” tall. A University graduate with a degree in Mass Communication, he enjoys Sidney Sheldon novels, TV shows like Tinsel, Border Security and Ultimate Survival and music by 2Face, Wizkid, and PSquare. His favourite movies include Ray, Safe House, Grease, and The Sound of Music and his favourite actor is Jamie Foxx.

Ola’s favourite place in Nigeria is Lagos because it is a fast-growing city. His favourite thing about Africa is that the land has been blessed a great deal, while he also enjoys the people and culture. He loves the ocean, so his favourite place outside of Nigeria is Cyprus. He lists his mother as his role model, because she is supportive, prayerful and patient. He says his Dad influenced his life the most because “he always worked hard for me and wants the best for me – he loves me unconditionally”.

He was inspired to enter Big Brother StarGame with his friend Christian because he thinks he has what it takes to participate and also to learn about other cultures. Ola describes himself as smart, funny, creative, fun-loving and sweet and thinks he’s fun to be around and can hold a healthy conversation.

He likes people who are open to ideas, but dislikes people who are not ‘real’. He says that viewers can expect jokes, interaction and drama from him on Big Brother StarGame. If he wins, he will give a percentage of his money to each participating Housemate and try to help them raise money for their respective countries – then start his own food show on TV. He sees his participation in the show as a platform for him to be accepted easily in whatever he chooses to do in life, going forward.

CHRIS - NIGERIA
Age: 25

Fashion designer Chris is single and has a degree in Human Kinetics. He entered Big Brother StarGame because he thinks the House is fun – and he’s a fun-loving person. He hopes to bring his own style to the game and make a great impression. He’s looking forward to partnering with fellow Nigerian Ola because “he is one of the funniest individuals I have come across and I think we share the same sense of humour. He’s a crazy guy, trust me!”

He has his eyes on the grand prize, but says he isn’t willing to do anything against his religion or beliefs to win the game. He’s not worried about having millions of viewers watching his every move because he believes the game is about viewership and “people must watch”. He didn’t follow last season’s show, but his all-time favourite housemate is Richard, because “he was real”.

Chris describes himself as fun-loving, blunt, and funny and likes to put things in order. He says “you can’t be bored around me” and likes people who “come as they are, not what they are trying to be”. He says that viewers can expect him to be “the realest Housemate” and that he has a lot to give to other Africans. If he wins the grand prize, he’ll pay his tithe, give some to charity and spent the rest on his business, family and friends.

Chris’ greatest life influence is his mom, because she is very positive and she never gives up. He says the best thing about the continent is its richness of culture and that his favourite place in Nigeria is the Obudu Cattle Ranch. His favourite TV show is “24”, he likes the music of 2Face and his favourite actor is Denzel Washington.

DALPHIN – SIERRA LEONE
Age: 27

Dalphin is a model booker from Freetown and has a BA degree. She is single, likes rice and cassava leaves and enjoys TV shows like Big Brother Africa, Inside Africa, The Tyra Banks Show, Tinsel and Jacob’s Cross. Her favourite musicians include Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson and 2Face.

Her favourite places in her country are Freetown, Aberden Beach and Hill Station and she says the best thing about Africa is that the entire continent is beautiful. “I love our culture and heritage and our people are down-to-earth,” she says. She says Paris is her favourite place outside of Sierra Leone.

Her role models are Beyonce and Mercy Johnson, because they have inspired her to work hard. Her parents and friends have had the biggest influence on her life and she says her greatest achievement was being admitted to University – a feat neither of her parents was able to achieve.

She was inspired to enter Big Brother StarGame with her friend Zainab because her friends and model clients have always pushed her to do something on television. She and Zainab have been friends for about 8 years and have been through it all together. “She’s real down-to-earth and crazy,” she says of her partner. Dalphin says she won’t lose her pride to win the game – and if she does win the grand prize, she would use the money to launch a TV show and help war-afflicted children in her country.

ZAINAB – SIERRA LEONE
Age: 26

A model from Freetown – now based in Istanbul – Zainab is the youngest of eight sisters and four brothers. She likes to eat fish, rice, meat and cassava leaves and her favourite TV shows are Criminal Minds, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Drop Dead Diva.  Her favourite musicians are Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Toni Braxton and Brandy and she says Sarah Jessica Parker is her favourite actress “because she’s fabulous”.

Zainab’s role models are Naomi Campbell and her mother – “both great women”. She says that her mom has had the greatest impact on her life because she is kind, practical and “the best person I have ever known”. She describes herself as fun-loving, awesome, nice, happy and honest and says her best traits are her personality and her ability to be honest no matter what the situation might be.

She says viewers should expect “fun, fun, fun” from her. “I’m the girl next door – a fun, sweet, nice girl,” she says. She entered Big Brother StarGame because everyone she knows pushed her to – plus she thinks it will be lots of fun. She entered with partner Dalphin because they are best friends. “I chose her because of her personality – she is a fun-loving, kind-hearted and down-to-earth individual, and most of all, she has the potential to win!” she says.

Zainab is honoured that Africa will be watching her every move in the house. “I am sure Africans are going to have so much fun with me. I love cameras and attention, so this is just me,” she says. She hasn’t watched much of previous seasons of the show, but says from what she has seen, Karen is her favourite former housemate. If she wins, Zainab will publish her book, based on a true story and launch a shoe line.

KEAGAN – SOUTH AFRICA
Age: 22

Keagan is an intern Manager from Cape Town. He enjoys a variety of food, including pasta, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, lobster thermidor, sushi and barbecue. He likes to read car magazines and The Secret and his favourite TV shows include Entourage, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Big Bang Theory and Breaking Bad.

He says his favourite place in South Africa is his hometown – Cape Town – and that the best thing about the continent is “the amount of cultures we have and the people that make Africa a better place”. Outside of Cape Town, he says his favourite place in the world is Miami, where he lived for 5 years.

Keagan’s role models are his parents, because “if it wasn’t for their wise words, wisdom and perseverance, I wouldn’t be the person I am today”. His family has played a huge role in his life, because they have always supported him in whatever he wanted to do. His greatest achievements so far include living independently in a foreign country at a young age, achieving his black belt in karate and playing professional soccer.

His friend and Big Brother StarGame partner Lee inspired him to enter for the show – along with the money on offer! He partnered with Lee as they’re best friends and have known each other for over 18 years. “We know each other’s qualities through and through and will be a vital force in the Big Brother House,” he says. He doesn’t mind the millions of eyes that will be watching him – in fact, he’s hoping for an invitation to other countries in Africa after the show as he loves travelling! If he wins the grand prize, Keagan will invest some of the money to help him in the future, give some cash to a charity after some careful research, and help some of his family members.

LEE – SOUTH AFRICA
Age: 22

Lee is a second year Graphic Design Student from Cape Town. He’ll be playing the game with his lifelong friend Keagan – whom he says was “the only one mad enough to say yes” to taking part in Big Brother StarGame with him. His family is right behind him too – as long as he doesn’t embarrass them! If he wins the grand prize, Lee will give his parents a share for all their troubles, buy an apartment and invest in his future.

Lee describes himself as reserved, free, non-judgmental, crazy and respectful. The traits he admires most in others are honesty, trustworthiness, respect, fun and an outgoing nature. He says the best thing about himself is his level head, and he dislikes people who are dishonest backstabbers. His favourite former Housemate is fellow South African Ferdinand Rabie.

He says his greatest achievement is becoming the person he is today: “I didn’t do anything spectacular, but I believe I got good morals, values and goals,” he says. Everyone in his life has played an important role in influencing him and he constantly learns new life lessons from those around him. His mother is his role model as she has done everything for his family and lots of other people – and always does it with a smile.

Lee likes watching sports programs and the Discovery Channel and his favourite artists are DJ Fresh, Netski, Drake Adele and John Mayer. His favourite actors are Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock – because both have serious and fun sides and execute it well. His favourite movies include the James Bond collection, Grown Ups, Couples Retreat and X-Men.

HILDA- TANZANIA
Age: 28

Hilda hails from Morogoro and is a saleswoman. She has a son and enjoys the novels of Sydney Sheldon and the book Memoirs of a Geisha. She enjoys watching The Vampire Diaries and Game of Thrones on TV and likes listening to Michael Jackson, Karolla Kinasha, Adele and Keri Hilson. Her favourite actors are Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry and she likes the Sherlock Holmes movies.

Hilda was inspired to enter Big Brother StarGame by Biggie himself! “He seems to be a big challenge in the House and so I thought it would be fun to join him this time around and give him a special challenge. I can’t wait…” she says. She’s excited by the partnering format of this year’s show as it will be filled with fun and entertainment – plus her partner Julio is her best friend. “He is charming, sweet and a very good listener, of course,” she says.

She says she will do whatever it takes to win the grand prize – including lying her way out of a tricky situation or “being the sweetest thing ever”. She knows that Africa will be talking about her as soon as they see her on screen – which makes her excited. Her favourite Housemates from previous seasons are Tatiana, Richard, Karen and Elizabeth and if she wins, she will donate money to a charity she supports back home as a peer health educator to help them build a nice house – and then spend the rest on her son. She is hoping to make friends with the other housemates, enjoy the moment, and have good memories of her participation.

She says that the best part of her country is Mount Kilimanjaro. Her parents have built a house at the foot of the mountain and it’s the first thing she sees in the morning when she wakes up. Outside of Africa, her favourite places are Sweden – where she studied – and Denmark, where her father is from. Her mentor, Silvanus Mzeru, is her role model as he told her to be herself and to go for what she wants in life. Her mother is her biggest influence “because she has always picked me up when life was sour”. She says that her greatest achievements are her son and the bar she runs, where her friends come around every day for a drink and some great African food.

JULIO – TANZANIA
Age: 27

Julio is from Dar es Salaam and works as the Head of VAS, Electronic Channels and Products at a company in the telecommunications industry. With a BComm in Finance and an MBA under his belt, he looks set to be a wily player on Big Brother StarGame! He entered to be on the show because his best friend – Hilda – was the perfect example of the best candidate. Coupled with that, he saw himself as the most complete character because of how he lives his life as a hedonist.

He says of his partner Hilda that she is “real and straightforward” and that he’s always comfortable when she’s around. He says that men adore her while women are always on his case. “She’s smart, very interesting – especially with how much she knows, Africa will love her to death,” he says. He’s a fan of the show and cites Kevin as his favourite Housemate, though he says “at the end of the day, he has nothing on what I’ll bring to the House”.

Describing himself as fun, crazy, smart, cunning and entertaining, Julio says that being a hedonist changed his life. “I never let stress get to me, I know how to get myself in any situation, I’m very addictive and it’s hard for people to hate me,” he says. He likes people similar to himself, listing his favourite attributes in others as sexy, loud, funny, cunning, sweet and emotional. He says that Big Brother StarGame will be the best season of all time because of him and Hilda.

He loves soccer, music, dancing, squash, watching exciting TV series like Boston Public and America’s Best Dance Crew. His favourite foods are prawns, chicken, fish, chips and rice and he likes music by L’il Wayne, Jay-Z, Adele, J. Cole, Eminem and Rick Ross.

KYLE – UGANDA
Age: 24

Kyle is a Journalist with a BA in Mass Communication. His favourite food is “anything edible” and he loves watching football – particularly Arsenal. His favourite books are The Godfather by Mario Puzo and The Chamber by John Grisham, while he enjoys watching TV shows like The Bachelor, X-Factor, Nikita and Fringe. His favourite musicians are Enrique Iglesias, Romeo Santos, Adele, Lana Del Ray and The Script and his favourite actors are Al Pacino, Brad Pitt, Maggie Q and Megan Fox.

He entered Big Brother StarGame because it’s a one-of-a-kind show. “I love the way that strangers become the best of friends as the rest of Africa watches,” he says. “It really brings out anybody’s patience levels because there is a lot of money to chase – very intriguing!” He’s looking forward to playing the game with his partner Janette, who is describes as “the brightest and most rational person I ever met”. If he does win, he’ll invest in his music career and blow the rest in Tahiti or the Bahamas.

Kyle describes himself as calm, amiable, musical and animated. He likes the fact that he finds it hard to raise his voice at people, calling himself “a dialogue kind of person”. He likes anybody who would understand the fact that he doesn’t like fighting and that friendliness is all he needs and dislikes pretence and dishonesty.

His role model is his big brother Tony, because “he shaped me into the cool dude I have become”. His top influences are Rick Dees of The Weekly Top 40 and Terrence J of 106 & Park: “When I look at them, I just want to be the best radio and TV personality there has ever been”. His proudest achievement is beating a crowd of people to host a daily TV music show in Uganda. His favourite place in Uganda is the Kalangala Islands on Lake Victoria.

JANNETTE - UGANDA
Age: 22

Dancer Jannette is single and has a Uganda Certificate of Education. She loves pork ribs, chicken wings and pizza and likes TV shows like Desperate Housewives, 24, Nikita and Gossip Girl but doesn’t like reading. Her favourite singers are Janet Jackson, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Shania Twain and Britney Spears, while her favourite actors are Angelina Jolie, Maggie Q, Denzel Washington and Kiefer Sutherland.

Her role models are Beyonce and Janet Jackson, because they are both successful and have remained humble and grounded. Beyonce, in particular, has been a huge influence on her as she grew up loving and admiring her and everything she does.

She says that her Big Brother StarGame partner Kyle is very calm and listens to suggestions. “He is fun and a big fan of the show – I couldn’t ask for a better partner,” she says. She loves the limelight, so isn’t fazed by being watched by millions of viewers: “I love attention, both called-for and uncalled-for, so I’m ok with Africa watching me”. If she wins, she’ll use the money to boost her music career and use some to buy a car.

Jannette describes herself as small, a bit pushy, prayerful, fun and hard-working. She warns viewers to expect the unexpected from her. “I am not necessarily a sweet, shy, small girl,” she says. “Looks can be deceiving”. Janette likes people who are honest, who listen and who are fun. She dislikes dishonesty, laziness and dirtiness. She loves the fact that she can have fun and not be embarrassed. “I love that I don’t care what people say,” she says.

TALIA – ZAMBIA
Age: 23

Talia hails from Lusaka, where she is a graphic designer and musician. She will be playing Big Brother StarGame with her older sister Tamara, because she believes they are a great pair, they complement each other well and they share a rare understanding. She believes their presence in the House will bring controversy and great entertainment – and their supportive family is right behind them.

Talia says she is outgoing, free-spirited and spontaneous and likes her patience, tolerance and great sense of humour. In others, she respects strong personalities, kindness, understanding and a similar free-spiritedness to her own personality. She dislikes control freaks, gossips and people who look down on others.

If she wins the grand prize, Talia will invest in real estate and help her family and the people who helped her become who she is today. She is hoping to gain exposure, friends, connections and experience from being on the show and lists her favourite former housemate as Munya. She admits that having the whole continent watching her 24/7 is “a little nerve-wracking”!

Talia enjoys TV shows like X-Factor, Idols and Game of Thrones and movies including Lord of the Rings, Lucky Number Sleven, Gladiator and The Shawshank Redemption. Her favourite musicians are Chris Martin, Etta James, Jimmy Hendrix and Bob Marley and her favourite actors are Liam Neeson, Jared Leto, Bradley Cooper and Robert Downey Jr.

TAMARA – ZAMBIA
Age: 27

Tamara is a musician, just like her younger sister and Big Brother StarGame partner Talia. She loves watching TV shows like Idols, Desperate Housewives and Prison Break and her favourite movies include Silent Hill and Lucky Number Sleven. She likes actors like Gerard Butler, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Amanda Seyfried and musicians including Beyonce, Rihanna, Chris Brown and Michael Learns to Rock.

She was inspired to enter Big Brother StarGame by the possibilities: the exposure, chance to meet new people, and above all, the money which she says will change her life. She is looking forward to playing the game with Talia because they have fun together, they want to see how they will get along with the rest of the Housemates – plus it was a long-standing dream of theirs to be on Big Brother together.

Tamara says she is talkative, frank, good, and has a cool temperament. She likes the fact that she “tells it how it is”, helps people whenever she can manage and is a very happy person. She likes people who help other people and dislikes control freaks, know-it-alls and gossips. Tamara promises viewers entertainment, a lot of dancing, laughter and talking on the show.

Her role model is her father because he was creative and talented and showed her she could be anything she wanted to be. She is most proud of her car, because it was something she dreamed of for a long time. She likes Livingstone most in Zambia, and further afield, America because it’s the land of opportunity.

MANETA – ZIMBABWE
Age: 21

Bulawayo-born Maneta is a law student who says she is her own role model: “I am my own person and I have my own capabilities and I am fearfully and wonderfully made”. She has 4 older sisters and 1 older brother and says her law degree and her entrepreneurial endeavour are the things she’s most proud of because they make her feel “like a Superwoman”.

She was inspired to enter Big Brother StarGame after watching former housemate Karen entertain viewers and have so much fun. She’ll be playing the game with her step-sister, Teclar “because she is more interesting”. Maneta describes herself as fun, intelligent, beautiful, exotic and indescribable. She says that she is a grounded and humble person with morals who respects hard work and perseverance in others. She dislikes pretenders and liars!

If she wins the grand prize, Maneta will make a better future for herself. She is hoping to gain exposure, publicity, fun and new contacts from playing the game and says her family is behind both her and her sister. She’s excited by the fact that the whole continent will be watching her and is looking forward to an “interesting and intriguing” Big Brother StarGame.

Her favourite place in Zimbabwe is the Victoria Falls and says the best thing about Africa is that it has a lot of nature, animals, plants and beautiful people. Away from home, she loves Rome and Venice because of the buildings, culture and food. On the topic of food, her favourites are mushrooms and cheese and she loves watching America’s Next Top Model and Gossip Girl.

TECLAR – ZIMBABWE
Age: 31

Actress and entrepreneur Teclar is single and currently studying towards her degree. She likes to eat pork, sadza and Greek salad and likes the music of Beyonce, Adele, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Pink, Lady Gaga and Rihanna – and many more! She enjoys watching The Ellen Degeneres Show, Jerry Springer, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Takeshi’s Castle and Big Brother on the small screen, and says her favourite movies include Final Destination, Why Did I Get Married? and Soul Food.

Her favourite place in Zimbabwe is Inyanga and she says the best thing about Africa is that it’s a beautiful continent full of uncountable opportunities. Teclar has a mentor, whom she stayed with for 5 years and taught her a lot about business, the importance of working hard and how to look after herself.

Inspired to enter Big Brother StarGame with her step-sister Maneta by former housemate Karen, her fans, her classmates and her family, Teclar says she will do anything to win – except if it harms her integrity. Already a regular on TV on Studio 263, she isn’t fazed by having the continent watching her every move. If she wins, she’ll invest the money in her personal business and start a chat show on TV which she hopes would eventually lead to setting up an NGO to support single mothers in Zimbabwe.

Teclar describes herself as friendly, entertaining, fun and cunning and promises viewers fireworks, loads of dance, music, great comedy and drama and plenty of extreme entertainment. She dislikes abusive people and spending hours doing housework.