Bonang Matheba and Kat Sinivasan at the launch of House of BNG’s new non-alcoholic Nectar Rosé. Picture: Supplied
Multi-award-winning radio and television host and style icon Bonang Matheba is making her reality TV return this July bringing her reality show “B*dazzled by Bonang” to S3.
No stranger to South African television viewers, ahead of hosting the Miss South Africa finale,the media star will give viewers intimate moments where they access a side of her that she has not shared before.
This six-part series, with 46-minute episodes, is a co-production between Bonang Matheba Entertainment, with Matheba as executive producer, and Cake Media, with executive producer David Phume.
Matheba tells IOL that "B*dazzled by Bonang" will answer that burning question “What is Queen B up to?”
With a 20-year track record in the entertainment industry, fans and industry watchers are always curious about what big project Matheba is working on or her next big TV gig.
“People assume when you're not on screen that you're not doing anything, but I think my priorities have completely changed. The Bonang that people made on screen 20 years ago when I was on Live and then Top Billing and all of it has completely changed, only because my businesses have become such a massive success.
“Also with age comes a bit of growth, new challenges, and priorities shift. The things that you loved in your 20s not so much right now and also the things that I have to set up my life now so that when I'm a little bit older I don't have to worry about that so much.”
Queen B’s fans are always eager to get her back on screens, presenting some show or wanting to see her out and about, but Matheba says she is very particular and intentional about the work she takes on.
She says she is not completely off TV, which is true; she’s back hosting Miss SA after her return last year, which drew impressive ratings for S3.
“I’m very privileged to be able to choose the work that I do and choose the events and the live productions that I do. I did Time magazine last year.
“I'm at a point where I want my brand positioning and events to have a little bit more gravitas and it'll be a bit more bigger and have a bigger global impact.”
“B*dazzled by Bonang” was originally launched on YouTube in 2011, attracting over one million followers, last year she revived her YouTube with four episodes of “Bonang B*Dazzled”.
Matheba is now bringing a revamped on-screen version of “B*dazzled by Bonang”, to S3, who she has built a strong working relationship with.
“With Crown Chasers being on S3 and with BNG sponsoring Miss South Africa, with A Very Bonang year that we did a couple of years ago and Miss South Africa last year it was just it was an easy match.
"They said why don't you put it on TV I said yeah actually why not because I have so much to share I have so much to update people on and not everybody has access to YouTube in our country, only because you know the data prices are so high.
“Something like SABC allows every single person to watch it you know and that's how you know brand Bonang and Bonang became a household name because of the power of the SABC I want BNG to be a household name.
“I want to not reintroduce myself but to show people where I've been and the elevation and the growth in terms of Bonang they saw on Top Billing a couple of years ago in Bonang now.”
The 37-year-old may not be all over our TV screens but she is in a space where she is mentoring, identifying young talent and tapping into her media mogul hat, she’s in her “Basetsana Kumalo era”.
“I want to be in a place where I'm helping young people, I'm creating networks for young people through my foundation. We work with a lot of budding TV personalities that we're hoping to place on TV screens or radio but be guidance because I've had guidance and I want another Bonang to sit here in 20 years and be and say what I'm saying.”
As a businesswoman, Matheba has been able to achieve such not only through her brand collaborations with local and international high-profile brands including L’Oréal Paris, and Steve Madden but also through her luxury beverage, House of BNG.
House of BNG by Bonang Matheba, Bonang Matheba Entertainment and the Bonang Matheba Foundation are the Zero Malaria global ambassador's main focuses at the moment, occupying a lot of her time.
The House of BNG, this past week launched the Nectar Rosé Non-Alcoholic wine. She hosted a mini soiree, planned by her to go planner Precious Celebrations, attended by her supporters and media.
A project that has been underway. As someone who listens to her customers, Matheba is giving the people what they want with the non-alcoholic BNG. "We started with the Necter Rosé Non-Alcoholic because the Necter Rosé is the best-selling House of BNG.
Matheba has big plans in the pipeline for the House of BNG. She is toying with the idea of glassware, which aligns with her popular BNG wine. “Within the House of BNG, there'll be so much more especially in terms of house and home which is where I'm going.
“I have a brand new home. I'm decorating it, my priorities have changed. I think it comes with age. The things that you used to love then aren't the things that you love now.
My life is changing. I'm a grown woman, I’m in a wonderful relationship starting a family, all of those wonderful great things that come with being a 37-year-old lady.”
B*dazzled by Bonang” debuts on Monday, July 29, at 18.00 on S3 and the 66th edition of the Miss South Africa pageant will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria at 6. pm.
IOL Entertainment