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Ayanda having the time of her life

Losing out on the E! Presenter Search earlier this year came with a sweet consolation price for fashionista Ayanda Nhlapo.

The 25-year-old Nhlapo has now scored herself a new cushy gig on BET Africa's BET A-List and is having the time of her life.

The Jozi-based actress and television presenter was unveiled as the new host and fashion contributor to the show at a press preview held at Melrose Arch this week.

"We have already started working on the show and on the channel, but we have not been announced officially as the new faces.

"It is really amazing to be actually part of the family," Nhlapo says.

Nhlapo, who has thousands of followers on Instagram where she shares her style tips and inspirational messages, says her role on the show is to give fashion advice while interviewing celebrities.

After losing out on the prestigious E! Presenter Search competition to Katleho Sinivasan in March, Nhlapo was more than happy when BET A-List producers contacted her.

"They first wanted to interview me as one of the people to look out for in 2017.

"The second time around they invited me to be part of a style panel," she says.

"After those two interviews, they asked me to do style tips.

"I liked that and the head of the channel hired me.

"I eventually started getting paid, so it has actually become official. I have this job," Nhlapo giggled.

She added that the E! Presenter Search journey was necessary because it taught her a lot about presenting and toughened her for this dog-eat-dog industry.

The beauty, who defines herself as a fashion stylist, is so versatile she can style anything from music videos, television shows to films.

She has worked with big names in the entertainment industry such as Tamara Dey.

"I have also styled a lot of my celebrity friends such as DJ Doowop.

"My latest job was to style a Xhosa-culture inspired book.

"This lady who is an author, asked me to style her in 20 different Xhosa-culture inspired looks that define each of her poems. I am happy and growing in my work. I am expanding my horizons.

"I love being on BET, giving style tips. I also love being on music sets, styling everybody.

"I love my job and have a style collection coming up pretty soon," she says.

Nhlapo says her journey on television has just started because she looks forward to tapping into every area in the industry.

Her long-term plans include being a top-class actress and working behind the scenes as a content producer.

madibogoj@sowetan.co.za

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