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VERY SWEET: Idols judge Unathi Msengana PHOTO: BAFANA MAHLANGU

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Unathi Msengana admits that pity is her weakness.

"It is not easy being an Idols judge. You deal with all sorts of people.

"Some come to the show for validation, some to fulfil childhood dreams and others come just for fun. Telling them that they don't cut it is very difficult."

The 33-year-old mother of two says she enjoys every Idols moment, but it has not been easy.

The Metro FM DJ says some people thought she was too young to be a judge.

"Some people thought I did not earn my right to be a judge and that I could not sing.

"But Idols chose me because I made a career in music and on radio. "

The Rhodes University journalism graduate says Idolshas validated her decision.

"People said you cannot do radio and be a musician at the same time, butIdols validated the decisions I made in the past 10 years."

She says her second season of Idols was better than the first.

"I was pregnant and overwhelmed. I cried every day. After giving birth to my girl, there were days when I had to breastfeed in between breaks."

Msengana, who grew up in Namibia and the UK, says the show has changed her life.

"Where I grew up, there were no race issues. Coming back home and working in radio and television, I realised that they were target-market specific. With Idols, our only interest is the winner. Race, religion and age don't matter."

Her weirdest moments in Idols were when a contestant that her co-host hated and she loved was eliminated.

"He blamed me and said I turned his life into a misery. Once, a person arrived in adult nappies while another came in a gown."

She says that she is not a celebrity.

"I am a broadcaster and a musician. I am not my work, but it is part of who I am. When I am away from the public eye, I am a daughter, a mother and a daughter-in-law.

"I went to varsity for four years and came back with two degrees because I wanted to be known for my work. I do not mix business with pleasure."

Her mother inspires her.

"She went from being a domestic worker to having a Masters in English. She now works in the Office of the President. She taught me to separate business and personal life."

She loves being married to 5FM DJ Thomas Msengana, popularly known as Bad Boy T. "Being in the same industry works for us. We understand each other.

"When it is time to give attention to the people who support my career, he gives me space. I do the same."

Comments

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Sun May 19 13:43:33 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 13, 2012

xhosagirl

ohh please!!!!!
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Jul 13, 2012

imd

@BAFANA MAHLANGU bathong couldnt you have chosen another pic nje????
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Jul 13, 2012

Mokwepa

but she is not hot.
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Jul 13, 2012

Mrazane

Well done Unathi, you are educated and do your job well, fame has not gone to your head. I for one appreciate the way you carry yourself you are a role model and those interested in having a career in the media can look up to you and see that education is important.
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Jul 13, 2012

mathopeed

"I went to varsity for four years and came back with two degrees because I wanted to be known for my work. I do not mix business with pleasure."
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HOOWWWW? Please, can anyone clarify me on that. By the way i love your work and how you conduct yourself, and love Badboy even more. You are disciplined, dedicated, but you once turned my hand shake in Aucklandpark in 2007 lool. Gudluck anyway.
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Jul 13, 2012

dadaman1

It is because her music is pap and she knows that if she can be hard her sales will not improve unlike the other 2 judges.

And people will tell her that she cant sing either like 1 of the contestants who told her last season and i quote" Unathi i was at one of the gigs that you were singing at and honesty i was not impressed with your singing either"
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Jul 13, 2012

Cl!ck

The one lady that can talk rubbish for a flat 3 minutes..

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Jul 13, 2012

Aquia

Honestly mina sisi uya bora and u can't sing shame...sorry. Yeah yeah radio maybe but u have ur moments there. I don't think this article is worth publishing...Sowetan could have chosen a better topic for the day. Ai
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Jul 13, 2012

Rakgadi-Tabeya

@imd - LllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL I thought I was the only one who sees that.

@Mokwepa - Vele she's not perhaps ke kwae e yena le Thomas ba ipolaisang yona. The face shows that she's no stranger to "bottle" world.
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Jul 13, 2012

Comeback

ppl dont hate pls lol
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