#RHOD’s new Housewife Angel Ndlela on joining the reality TV show as the youngest cast member ever!
Yes, the cat is out of the bag. The Real Housewives of Durban is gearing to make its imminent return this February, and while fans are looking forward to the known drama that the show brings each season (without fail), season four brings with it new faces.
Chapter four introducces to us Ameigh Sibahle Thompson, Nqobile “Angel” Ndlela and Zamaswazi Ngcobo, who join OGs of housewives, namely Jojo Robinson, Maria Valaskatzis, Nonku Williams, Sorisha Naidoo and Silindile Wendy Ndlovu.
The youngest of the crew, newbie Nqobile known widely by her stage name Angel is no stranger to the limelight.
The businesswoman slash muso shares that entering the already established squad meant coming in with a fresh outlook, especially as someone who had been following the Durban spinoff of the reality show.
“I didn’t have any premeditated feelings or emotions towards the show or anyone specifically. And obviously as a country, myself included, we have been exposed to certain characters and that can form certain reservations. But I had to let go of all those so as to make my experience as authentic and untainted as possible,” she said.
The bubbly personality, could not stop saying “yey” throughout the interview – alluding to the fierceness of the show, the different personalities and of course one can assume the drama.
“When I got there honey, like what the hell,” she said laughing. “Bro, I was in awe of how real all this is and how overwhelming it can get. But I really believe they picked me for a reason. I am one person who stands her ground, and I know that not everyone is going to like me and that’s their problem,” adding that being chosen here and now was all in God’s timing.
“I am a huge believer that God has this amazing way of ushering us into our destined spaces and also gives us tools to cope there as well. I took every moment as it came and rolled with the punches,” she adds.
Angel shares that viewers will see sides to her that are unsavory, dubbing those moments as “acting completely out of character”, saying: “that’s only because some of the ladies are a hundred years older than me, (YES SHE SAID IT) they are very well-established in their businesses and personal lives and some married etc. I’m young, no kids and not married – which already presents two opposite worlds and that can throw one off. But I soon catch up and it becomes an enjoyable journey in many ways,” adds the 29-year-old.
Agreeing to be part of this particular cast speaks , she said, aligns to her multifaceted persona of being an influencer, businesswoman and muso and generally a nomadic being that wants to be everywhere and do everything.
Basically, uthanda izinto ezi’nice!
“I’ve been watching the Housewives franchises for as long as I can remember and never not once did I ever think I’d form part of that cast. So when the opportunity came, I saw no reason to turn it down.
“There was a reason why I was chosen and if they see something in me, I might as well see that in myself. Ultimately, I want to grow my brand to greater heights and hopefully things go as planned,” she adds.
With the many hats that Angel wears, she’s had to reevaluate what’s important and pursue that first – making the difficult choice of placing music in the backburner for now and focusing on building her empire.
“The music industry is quite tricky and I think everyone can see that there’s a new fav cropping up each week. I always listen to my instinct and that meant stopping music for awhile because it was affecting how my businesses were going. So I had to pick one, my empire or my dream.
“Fast forward to now, I really feel that with this exposure, people will know who I am more prominently and that gives me opportunities to approach the right people within the music industry to make the music dream a reality,” marking that this year is the year of her return.
Finding her footing among the much mature cast was not a difficult cast for Angel, sharing that she always carried the advice of listening more than talking when among those who are more successful than she is. This is a lesson she also implements within her business space.
“I am so honoured to have been around each and everyone of those women, regardless of how our relationships pen out in the end. I know that I have learnt so much that will make me a better businesswoman and generally a force to be reckoned with. They too did not treat me any lesser because of my age and that made everything easier for me.
“Would I come back next season, uh yeah girl I would!!,” she said emphatically with a boisterous laugh.
“This has been an experience of a lifetime,” she added.
