Get to know The Real Housewives of Durban’s newest face Maria Valaskatzis
The cat is out of the bag that three cast members of The Real Housewives of Durban season 2, will be replaced by three new faces.
Nonkanyiso Conco aka LaConco, Londie London and Thobile Mseleku have bowed out of the show, making way for Maria Valaskatzis, Mbali Ngiba and Slindile Wendy Ndlovu.
Season 3 of the spinoff show is set to air on February 1, 2023.
Speaking to Valaskatzis, she said the decision to join the show was anchored on wanting to bring a positive influence in people’s lives, especially as a mental health activist.
The 44 -year-old entrepreneur hails from Durban, and is the director of a media and communications agency, MV Consulting as well as the co-owner of a video production company, VKATZPK MEDIA.
“Being part of the cast has been an absolutely exciting experience for me. Reality TV shows have never been a sphere that I played in before, so this is very interesting. Having the opportunity to meet the different ladies.
“I’ve always followed the Durban spinoff of the Real Housewives, including the Cape Town spinoff and watched a little of Pretoria’s spinoff, but it never crossed my mind that I would ever be on the show. When the idea came up, I thought, ‘oh okay, let’s do it. Let’s try.’ And three months later, here we are,” said the bubble entrepreneur.
“I have been pretty active on social media for a few years now but I saw this opportunity as the perfect platform to touch other people, as a psychology student who focuses on mental health mostly. This show is so big, and reaches so many people, that if I can have a positive influence on just a few, I would have done what I have set out to do,” she said.
The mother of one is married to Orthopedic surgeon, Emmanuil Panayotis Valaskatzis, and when she isn’t busying herself with running her household, she is running her businesses.
“There isn’t a typical day in my life. I wake up daily at 4h30am to get my son ready for school before hitting the gym. I workout six days a week. I might not look like it but I am a lot of fun,” she said laughing. “I also have a shopping addiction, and I love my son to the most,” she said.
Asking how his small family received the show she said, “My husband hates the spotlight. He just likes going to work, doing his job and coming back home. So this has been quite an experience for him. I remember when we started shooting, I would tell him the shoot dates and he would immediately say ‘who’s we? I have to go to the theatre’.
“My 14-year-old son has been with me, in front of the camera and behind the camera, since the day he was born. So he loves the spotlight. He’d never admit it though, but he loves it.”
About the expected social media comments that will come, she said, “I have always lived my life in a way that I only hear and see what is good for my mental health. Everything else I cut out.
“I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Not everyone is going to like me, although I’d like for them to like me but I am not everyone’s cup of tea. Some choose coffee or a milkshake. But I am just going to be myself and hope I can appeal to someone out there,” she said.
Well known actress Mbali Ngiba, who is also a musician and the co-founder of African Centric Designs, joins the pack alongside Slindile Wendy who is a human resource consultant by qualification, with experience in events management and interior designing. She is also the founder of events management company Mawesi Consulting.
The Real Housewives of Durban spinoff will see the return of Annie Mthembu, Jojo Robinson, Nonku Williams and Sorisha Naidoo.