In their new reality show, Made In Africa, BET puts local designers to the test as they go on a quest to find the next big thing in fashion. Going along for the ride is TV personality Nandi Madida, who has taken up the role as host of the show.
Speaking to Channel24 ahead of the premiere, Nandi explained what viewers can expect. "Made In Africa is a reality fashion show, ten episodes, really riveting television because there's just a lot of cliff hangers. At some point it's very emotional. And I think it's because everyone there is genuinely passionate about fashion, including myself."
With fashion shows becoming a popular trend on local television, the presenter says what sets this one apart from the rest is its focus on Africa as a continent. "The reason I chose to be a part of such an amazing fashion show is because it includes the whole continent, and that we haven't seen before. That really excites me. It's something else to see how people work throughout the continent."
A successful designer herself, Nandi shared some of her top tips for making it in the industry. "First of all, find your aesthetic and ensure it's something that no one else can find anywhere else. That's the most important thing," she says.
The star also talks about the importance of being "willing to evolve" over time.
The final, but probably most vital, piece of advice she shares is this: "It's almost sad to say this, but it's just the truth cause I like to be practical – you need to find funding too. And that's in terms of support for your collection. Cause financially it's very taxing. And that's something that people don't speak about a lot but it's the absolute truth."
Made In Africa premieres on 30 May at 21:00 on BET (DStv 129).
© Channel24
