gsport has
been keenly awaiting a chance to feature Unathi Nkayi, and this month provided
the perfect opportunity with Cricket being our featured sport of the month.
For those who
don’t know, Unathi is a self confessed cricket fanatic, and is often
spotted on the grass embankment at Liberty Life Wanderers during the home
international season, supporting Graeme Smith and his Proteas team.
Unathi admits
that her ultimate favourite sport is hockey and she also enjoys rugby. But she
is not just an armchair fan. This devoted mother is sporty and works out often.
She enjoys spinning, squash, dance, and cardio work.
At 27, Unathi
has already had so many highlights, including being named bas one of South Africa’s
10 top women in media in 2004.
She is
currently co-host of Metro FM’s afternoon drive show with Glen Lewis, a talented artist, and a sought after MC and performer.
After forgetting
the lines of a song as a teenager, and vowing never to sing again, Unathi has
found her confidence, thanks to a duet she recorded with Zola, which helped her
rekindle her passion for music. She recently showed her versatility by
recording a song in Portuguese, and she is busy preparing for the release of
her Sophomore album in February.
Unathi’s
greatest highlight was performing at a United Nations Dinner and receiving a
standing ovation from music legend, Quincy Jones.
Her personal
style is uniquely Unathi – often spotted in Sun
Goddess, she has a presence that takes your breath away, and is rightly
regarded as one of the country’s most stylish women. Unathi describes herself
as a tomboy who enjoys dressing up.
We’re in awe
of her ability to remain true to herself, constantly refresh her brand, and use her talents to the utmost. Unathi is a true inspiration who epitomizes how a real woman should carry herself
– with pride, passion, and a genuine respect for her womanhood.
She says love
inspires her to be a better person in the way that work, play, dream, love and
live.
Introducing
gsport’s 2007 November Style Star, music child, Unathi Nkayi!
How do you enjoy co-hosting Metro FM’s afternoon
drive with Glen Lewis?
For the first
time in a long time I wake up in the morning looking forward to going to work,
it’s not even work really. I manage to disappear with him for three hours
everyday and go through a landscape of emotions because of his guidance fuelled
by so much experience. He has an incredible sense of humour and is worldly in a
way that I take something away everyday.
Aside from radio, what are the other projects keeping
you busy?
I’ve recently
crossed the floor to join Kalawa Jazmee, possibly the country’s most successful
Indi record label. We are currently in studio, due to release my Sophomore
album in February. I recently recorded a song in Portuguese called Meu Amor
Parasempre, which means My Love Forever and that was a spiritual
experience that is indescribable. I hope our brothers and sisters from
Portugeuse African countries will appreciate its authenticity.
Tell me about your love for music, when did it start,
and what made you want to become an artist?
I was raised
through music. Growing up in Cardiff,
the one way my parents could ensure we never lost our sense of self was through
music. We would go to live performances of our the exiled musicians and
festivals too. I remember going to Nelson Mandela’s birthday concert at Wembley
Stadium and going to see the likes of The Mahottella Queens perform live in and
around the UK.
I began to
understand the emotional value of music and inevitably fell in love with it.
I’ve always sang and performed, but because of a very embarrassing incident I
went through in STD 6, I distanced myself from performing. I was singing a solo
piece and forgot my lines and froze in front of the whole school, teachers and
parents and all. I vowed never to sing again, until Zola convinced me to record
a duet with him. I’ve not looked back since.
What do you enjoy most about performing in front of a
live audience?
I’m Scorpio,
I’m a very passionate person. I love recreating the music and in turn
recreating those emotions. I love going on a journey with the audience and
truly, sharing a part of me my radio and television world shields.
What challenges do you face as a woman in the media
and entertainment industry and how do you deal with them?
I’m a dreamer
and am not scared to dream. Sometimes I feel people are insulted by the fact
that I cannot be boxed into a category. Is she a radio personality? Is she a
singer, songwriter? I just say I’m God’s child. I find though that our male
counterparts are coming to terms with our strengths as women, so the work place
is becoming a whole lot of fun.
What has been your biggest career highlight to date?
Perfoming at
a United Nations Dinner and Quincy Jones standing up and giving me a standing ovation.
He then proceeded to walk onto stage during my performance and gave me the
longest hug and whispered in my ear how much he loved my voice and he hoped to
see me grow into a worldy recognizable voice. I still get goosebumps whenever I
see him on TV.
You’re known to be a big cricket fan, what do you
love most about the game?
Now I love
the fact that it has moved from being an exclusively Gentlemens Sport to being
a family craving for many around the world. But I fell in love with it watching
it with my father. He would move all the furniture in the lounge and drag one
of our mattresses from the bedroom and we would spend the whole day there. Then
I discovered the love of my life is mad about it. It’s just one of those
addictive disciplines, whether you prefer the Tests, ODI’s or the Pro 20’s. I
just love Cricket.
Who are your favourite cricketers?
Brian Lara,
Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel and I believe Graeme
Smith has grown into a world class Captain.
Which other sports do you enjoy?
Hockey is my
ultimate favourite sport. I love Rugby too.
How do you keep fit?
I love
working out. Spinning and Squash. I dance too. I just love doing cardio work.
gsport strives to celebrate femininity. How would you
define femininity?
I think
femininity is a mind thing. It’s in the way you relate to people, your peers,
your partner. It’s in the way you exude that you are a woman of strength and
that doesn’t mean that femininity equals being fickle.
How would you describe your personal style?
I’m a tomboy
who loves to play dress-up. I combine things that conventionally would not be
combined and am all behind our South African designers. Sun Goddess and David
Tlale are amongst my favourite. I honestly dress for my emotions.
Where do you enjoy shopping?
I know you
won’t believe me but I hate shopping. I don’t have the patience and get very
irritable having to look for something I like. Honestly if I see something I
like, I’ll buy it but I can’t go out "Shopping". It drives me crazy.
I also have a friend who knows my style and he shops for me.
Who are your favourite local and international
designers?
Locally I
like Sungoddess and David Tlale. Internationally I love Rocca Wear and Addidas.
Replay jeans are the only ones that discipline my behind nicely and I am
obsessed with shoes.
Who are your style icons?
Angelina
Jolie. She too is a tomboy that enjoys playing dress up. In
which ever look she chooses for the day, she always epitomizes elegance.
What is always in your handbag?
My lip
moisturiser, gloss and powder. My phone, a pen and wallet.
What is your favourite item of clothing and why?
My mother
once gave me a patched leather vintage skirt of hers and I will value it until
I have to pass it on one day.
What are you wearing this summer?
Shorts….I
never show my legs and this summer I’ve decided to let them too bask in the
sun.
Do you have a regular beauty routine?
I’m lucky
enough to have good skin so I don’t have to be that strict with a
routine. I believe that if you use good products too, one can trust the
skin to heal itself. I cleanse and moisturize daily, but tone and mask
whenever I feel like pampering myself which is not often. That toyboy
thing.
What do you enjoy most about being a woman?
I carried my
son for nine months. I was one with this little man through all his
physical and emotional developments. That is a gift that I could never
take for granted. To be part of that miracle was overwhelming.
What inspires you?
Love inspires
me to be a better person in the way that work, play, dream, love and live.
Who are your role models?
I look up to
my parents in the way that they have made so much out of so little and never
lost themselves along the way. In turn, raising us in a very good
environment to be good people. I look up to my partner in his ability to dream
and stand for his beliefs.
Favourite motto?
The only
thing that talents want is to be used.
Your greatest ambition?
To have lived
a holistic life and be something my family can be proud of.
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