The Beautiful Miranda Mokhele

A lot of you know her as the streetkid-turned-TV star Latoya, on the SABC 1 drama series Tshisa OR as Thandeka, a member of the tone-deaf professional-singer-wanna-be group Driehoek, on E-TV’s Rhythm City; but there’s more to Miranda than that. We had a chat with her:

When did you get into TV?
I got my first official role n TV in 2007 when I did a small role for one of the Heart Lines series…

Have you always wanted to be an entertainer when you grew up or was it one those careers that found you instead?
I have always wanted to be an entertainer, I even asked my dad to find me an art school (Lady Grey arts Academy)

You’ve also played the tone-deaf singer wanna-be on Rhythm City, Thandeka. What was it like?
It was a lovely experience, Rhythm city was my first soapy and I learned a lot form the people I worked with.

Unlike Thandeka, you can actually sing. What kind of music do you sing?
I can sing any genre of music really – but I specifically love afro soul/jazz.

Do you have an album coming up?
I am currently recording my debut album called “New Beginnings”.

Which one are you most passionate about? Singing or acting?
My first love is Music – acting happened to be one of those things that came up first after varsity.

My first major at AFDA was music, and then 2^nd Acting.

Any projects you’re currently working on?
I am currently not working on anything on screen, but not by choice. I attend quite a few auditions but I have not landed anything serious as yet (it might not be my time…) I believe in the whole “there is a time and a place for everything”. I run my own children’s acting agency, so that keeps me busy and gives me a constant income.

What does the future look like for Miranda Mokhele in the entertainment industry?

This is most definitely not going to be last you see of me… I believe God has Big things planned for me, and my album is just the beginning.

Now the fun part; your most-envied Afro. It’s beautiful. Have you always been natural? If no, how long have you been growing your fro to get to the length it currently is?
When I was young I was natural (I changed/relaxed my hair because of school, it had to look neat). In my second year of varsity I decided to grow dreads. I then cut them after a year and grew my afro.

Is it a challenge to get jobs in your industry with natural hair? Or
does it work to your advantage?
It is very hard, two things make it hard at times: my hair and my race ( colour of my skin). There are very little roles for coloured women in our industry so I end up being sent for black peoples roles. When I had dreads I never got any jobs because coloured people on TV are supposed to have curly hair. When I cut them and grew my afro i started getting jobs left, right and centre. I have learned to manage my hair according to the roles I get sent for. For coloured roles I either straighten my hair or do the curly thing. For black roles I hook the afro up.

Do you do your own hair, take it to a salon or have a stylist?
I do my own hair – I do have a hairstylist that plaits my hair and advises me on what to put on it and so on.. (OBEY MUCHUPISI), he is very good with my hair.

I like how you played around with it on Rhythm City. You even went as far as having it straightened. It really showed the versatility of black natural hair. How did you/stylist prevent damage from all that heat from blow-drying/flat-ironing?
The hairstylists at Rhythm City are really good at what they do. Not once was my hair mistreated in anyway, I am not sure how they prevented all of the above but my hair came out better than it had ever been in my life, lol. Guess it helped that they where professionals…

What’s a normal hair day like for Miranda? Your daily routine/regimen?

I do not comb my hair, I only comb it when I wash it which is twice a week. Showering is good for my afro because it steams it and that way I can pull and pluck it into place, lol ( its softer then). I dress after pulling and plucking to give it a chance to set and dry ,after dressing I pull and pluck some more (so that it does not shrink and for it to stay in place). I seldom moisturize my hair…

Please dish out on your favourite hair products?
Cavil and Easy waves…do the trick for me

A lot of people grow an Afro and then eventually lock their hair, will you also go that route eventually?
Maybe when I am older and do not act anymore ( i loved my dreads) – but for now, it stays this way…

What’s your favourite hair salon? (that’s if you treat your hair at one)
I do not have a favourite, I am always changing hair salons, because I do not go often…