Boitumelo Maoka, also known as Melo, has found a home in radio.

She hosts a show called Melo on 10th from 10am to 12pm on Yfm. The free-spirited and energetic Melo says she left a stable job in finance - with prospects to earn better money - to pursue her first love, radio.

"I love finance but radio is my first love. It's my happy place. Even when I'm having a bad day, when I get on air everything changes," she says.

The 26-year old who was born and raised in Pretoria, started her radio journey on campus radio in 2011 while studying towards her BCom Accounting degree at the University of Johannesburg where she presented a show called The Sweet Escape on UJ FM.

Melo tells TimeOut that before she started working on Yfm in 2015, she faced challenges as she tried to climb the corporate ladder.

"My first time on radio was horrible, in fact it was disgusting. I was so scared. I am such a perfectionist. I did not feel like things went the way I wanted them to," Melo says.

She says even after she had used a script, she felt her presentation was still poor.

She says she was able to overcome her nerves and fear by "getting out of her head", which made everything easier.

Melo says she loves radio because it allows her to connect with people and impact their lives.

"I am grateful that Yfm has given me this opportunity to grow and expand."