gsport’s February Cover Girl Jeannie D has
a voice for radio and a face for TV, and luckily for her she has tasted the
best of both worlds. First, talking up a storm, and having loads of fun on Goodhope FM and now as a jet setting
presenter on the popular style and entertainment show Top Billing.
Jeannie (25) had
the privilege of attending the Oscars back in 2006 which she describes as a "phenomenal"
experience and she also enjoyed a once in a lifetime opportunity to hang out
with Leonardo DiCaprio and 50Cent at the Armani Launch in London, part of
Fashion Week.
From Hollywood to New York, Paris to London,
Jeannie has travelled extensively and she loves every minute of her chaotic,
exciting lifestyle.
She may not
have paparazzi scaling her walls, but You
magazine’s 2007 Most Popular female celebrity hardly walks around unnoticed.
And when she is seen out and about, she always looks drop dead gorgeous, either
in Stilettos, Jeans, and T-Shirts, or designer gowns by her favourite local
designer, Gavin Rajah.
Jeannie
describes her personal style as classic, saying she has a typical 50s figure,
with the "big boobs, minute waist, and the bum that matches the boobs", so she
sticks to styles that suit her body and her face. Whatever she does, its
working, as was evident when she won Best Dressed TV Presenter at last year’s People Magazine Crystal Awards.
Jeannie’s
style icon is Audrey Hepburn and while she hated to admit, she loves how Posh
Spice dresses, and she still loves those classic Jackie O sunglasses. She
believes women should dress to feel confident, beautiful, sexy, and
comfortable, and would rather be overdressed than underdressed.
Jeannie never
leaves home without a fresh face of makeup, but she is firm believer of taking
care of her skin, so she goes to bed with makeup on. She has facials,
manicures, and pedicures once a month, and enjoys regular back massages on her
regular trips to Bali.
With her
hectic lifestyle, Jeannie admits she has very little time to go to gym, but she
is a big fan of Bikram Yoga, which is one of her favourite forms of exercise.
She is also a major sports fan, preferring cricket, rugby, and soccer.
Jeannie
embraces her femininity and loves being a woman! But what we love most about
her is her zest for life. She is ambitious to the point of obsession, having
already obtained her diving license, her helicopter license, and she is
learning how to ride a super bike.
This stylish
Capetonian is inspired by anyone who can just be happy every single day and her
greatest ambition is to sail her own yacht around the Mediterranean, have a
penthouse apartment in New York,
and have two children.
Introducing
gsport’s February 2008 Style Star; Cover Girl Jeannie D!
Jeannie, from radio to TV, you have made the
transition look so easy. How are you enjoying it?
I think the
transition for me was very easy. I have been very, very fortunate. Radio is
something I am incredibly passionate about so I do miss it but I haven’t had an
opportunity to think I wanna go back to radio. I was working at Goodhope FM and
got offered the job at Top Billing
and juggled the two for a good year and a half and then just decided I can’t do
this anymore.
I was
travelling all the time. I was in a different country every second week.
Obviously I had a stand-in during my radio show, so I resigned from Goodhope FM
with a heavy heart because I love that radio station and I love the people I
worked with but Top Billing took up all my time. I’ve never regretted it. I
have the best job in the world. I absolutely love it. As I said I’ve been
travelling and so busy shooting everyday that I haven’t had an opportunity or a
moment to miss radio yet.
What has been the biggest difference moving from
behind the mic to in front of the camera?
It’s been
quite hectic. Also with radio I produced my own show so I was very much in
control of what I was doing and what I was saying all the time. With TV you’re
working with a team, and so many different opinions telling you this is what
we’re going to do, this is what we think you should do, so that’s been amazing,
also working with different people.
I think radio
is so lonely because you’re stuck in a studio and isolated for four hours. So
you connect with your audience in that way, but TV is totally different and
it’s a very, very different connection. Also, having my face out there… wow…. its
difficult going shopping, especially when I’m buying loo paper or something…
laughs! I take everything in my stride. I enjoy being appreciated for my work,
it means a lot to me, so I enjoy it.
You look like you have so much fun on Top Billing, what has been highlight so
far?
Definitely
the travelling! I’ve gotten to see the world… five-class…and I haven’t had to
pay for it…laughs! I get to meet all the Hollywood
stars I idolize and respect and I get to do it at the Beverly Hills Hotel and
the Four Season Hotel with a chauffer-driven Rolls Royce. It’s been amazing,
really, its like a dream!
I think if I
had to write a book it would be quite a page turner. And also doing the DIY
segments, put it this way, never in my life did I imagine that I would know how
to operate a drill, or a sander, or an electronic drill press, or a welding
machine…it’s been amazing!
What have been some of your favourite travel
destinations that your job has taken you to?
My favourite
places are undoubtedly Paris and New York; those cities
just speak to me and appeal to every single part of my personality. It’s got
the romance, it’s got the bustle, and it’s got chaos which I thrive on. Those
two places energize me completely. I love the culture and the art, just
everything about them. They’re both so different yet so similar – there is so
much you can take away from them.
New York is also loud all the time and I
find the hum of the city so soothing. Other places I love, I love Mauritius, Mozambique,
and Malaysia
is incredible. I’ve been really blessed…
What showpiece events have you covered and who are
some international celebrities you’ve met?
I did the
Oscars which was the highlight of my life, it was absolutely phenomenal. So the
Oscars stand out as the best. Possibly better than the Oscars was the Armani
launch in London
which was part of fashion week.
We have very
good business ties to Armani International and what happened was that they gave
us red carpet access where they didn’t give to Reuters, and to CNN and to FFTV
– they gave it to us so that was
phenomenal. We shared tables with 50Cent, Leonardo DiCaprio, and we were
sitting at the table having dinner with them, it was just unreal!
Aside from Top
Billing, what are your other current and upcoming projects?
I am working on
a couple of projects at the moment – I’m not going to speak about them
June/July…laughs! Otherwise I do a lot of MC work, which keeps me incredibly
busy. Voice overs, MC work, just the regular stuff. But I am working on some
other projects that will be …I’ll chat to you about it in June…laughs!
Fans love your bubbly personality,
which is evident after you walked away with the Most Popular Female Celebrity award at last year’s You Magazine
Spectacular. How do you handle being in the public eye?
It’s okay… I
suppose South Africa
don’t live under such hectic media scrutiny as they do overseas. I’m sitting at
home at the moment but I don’t exactly have the paparazzi climbing the
walls…laughs! Its pretty much a normal life but there are aspects to my life
that definitely aren’t normal. But you’ve just got to take it in a stride. It’s
a job you know. I’ve been doing radio and TV from a very young age.
I was 19 when
I first got into media, and first got into radio. I think I’ve grown up with
it, so I’m used to it…I don’t know any other life I suppose. I don’t any other
lifestyle. If that’s not a normal life, then I think… Besides my personality go
well with…laughs! It’s hard not to be happy all the time when you get to go to
go to Bali once every two months for a back
massage…laughs!
How would you define your personal style and how has
it evolved over the years?
My personal
style… I think is,,, quite classic… in a way. I know if some people look at my
style they’ll say "girl that’s just not classic" I have a very classic 1950s
shape. I’ve got the big boobs, minute waist, and the bum that matches the boobs
unfortunately so I’ve got to dress it to make it look the most flattering so I
stick to styles that suit my body and also suit my face.
I love jeans,
stilettos and funky T-shirts; that is my uniform on a day to day basis. But I
love beautiful dresses, I love beautiful fabrics. I’m fortunate enough to be
able to travel a lot so I get to buy a lot of clothes overseas and I like
designer stuff just because I feel once you wear something designer it’s the
fabric and fit that really makes you feel confident.
But as Coco
Chanel once said: "The most important thing about a dress is the woman wearing
it and the confidence she can exude. I think to be a stylish woman is not about
what you’re wearing its about how you feel about yourself and how you treat the
people around you.
You also won the 2006 People Magazine Crystal Award
for Best Dressed Presenter and have
been nominated for a few others. Do you feel pressure to always look your best?
I do but you
know I’ve always been the girl who… I’ll never leave home without a fresh face
of makeup. I’ll never leave the house without looking my best. My gran and my
mother always said: "Imagine you’re in an accident, make sure you’re wearing
the most beautiful undies ever and you’ll look your best, so… laugh!
I’m the kind
of girl will put on makeup every morning of my life. I have for the past 10 years
and I will for the next 50. I don’t feel pressured to do it, I enjoy it, and I
love it, its part of who I am, I love dressing up. I’d rather be overdressed
than underdressed.
What is always in your handbag?
I love
handbags. I’ve got loads, I’ve got so many. When it comes to shoes, handbags,
makeup, and sunglasses I have so much. In my handbag I always have my diary
because I always overbook and I never know where I go and what I do. So in my
handbag I have my diary, sunglasses, makeup bag, wallet, lip-gloss, asthma
pump, and keys.
Do you have a beauty routine?
I do, my
number one rule is never go to sleep with your makeup on or without brushing
your teeth. Just cleanse, tone, and exfoliate all the time. I go for facials,
pedicure, manicures once a month because I find it incredibly important. Skin
is the most important part of your body so you’ve just got to take care of your
skin. I use excellent products on my skin – just look after it as best as I
can.
Who are your favourite designers, local and international?
Local – Gavin
Rajah is my hero. I actually do love him! He pulls out all the stops for me
whenever I say "Gavin I need a dress" he won’t just give me one of the shelf;
he’ll create one for me. He knows all my measurements off by heart and he always
manages to make something for me that I know is going to be perfect.
Internationally, I am the biggest Dolce & Gabbana fan in the world and
Roberto Cavalli is just a legend so those are definitely my heroes.
Who are your Style icons and why?
Definitely Audrey
Hepburn! I love her classic style. I think she was very ahead of her time with
her style. Jackie O is just amazing – those glasses I’m still wearing them. And
funny enough I know I’m going to be criticized for this but I love how Posh
Spice dresses. I find her a little bit skinny; I would have preferred her with
a little more meat on her bones but I love how she dresses, I love how she
carries herself off. She’s like a 21st century cartoon character. I
love her!
What is your style advice to other women?
I think just
dress to make yourself feel confident, dress to make yourself beautiful and
sexy, and also comfortable – you’ve got to be comfortable. I’m a slave to the
stiletto at the best of times but I make sure I’m always comfortable in them.
So just be yourself and wear what you want to wear as long as it looks damn
good…laughs!
How do you keep fit?
I struggle to
make time to get to a gym or get to do some sort of exercise routine. But I go
every now and then and I really enjoy Bikram Yoga. Its definitely one of my
favourites when it comes to exercise.
What are your favourite spectator sports?
I’m going
tomorrow night to go watch the day-night game. I really enjoy rugby and
football. Come Soccer World Cup time I’m the biggest fan.
Who are your favourite sports stars?
Christiano
Ronaldo, except he’s been getting some bad press lately, and Schalk Burger and Bryan
Habana absolutely rock my world!
gsport strives to celebrate femininity. How would you
define femininity and what role does it play in your life?
I embrace my
femininity, I love being a woman, I love being girly. I understand that there
are certain thing a man can do that I can’t do then a man must do it. I believe
that chivalry is most definitely not dead. If I go on a date with someone they
must open the door for me and they must be a proper gentleman. I think that’s
what it’s all about.
Being a woman
is that you can be strong, you can be independent, and you can be really
successful in your industry but you can soften yourself and you can be vulnerable.
A woman has the gift to do all of that and be a woman!
What’s the best thing about being South African?
The fact that
we live in the most beautiful country in the world, politics aside… laughs!
Aesthetically it’s the most exquisite country ever. Fortunately I live in Cape Town and I still get
to see the beauty of our country every single day. Also, South Africans are the
most good looking race in the world and we’re also the friendliest, and I think
we are the most well rounded culture ever.
What inspires you?
I’m
incredibly ambitious; I’m also very competitive as well. I don’t compete with
others I just compete with myself all the time. I am constantly pushing myself.
I want to do everything in the world. At the moment I am doing my helicopter license,
I’m learning to ride a super bike; I’ve done my diving license. I want to be
able to do everything in the world so that I know I have truly lived and that
inspires me every day. Fortunately I have chosen a career that also pushes me
to do it.
Who are your role models?
People in
everyday life; anyone who can just be happy every single day. I just think
anyone who has sincere happiness in their lives is phenomenal!
What is your greatest ambition?
In years to
come I would like to sail my own yacht around the Mediterranean, I’d like to
have a penthouse apartment in New
York, and I’d like to have two children.
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