Cover Model

Interview with Zingo Lingo?

Who is Nontando?

I'm Nontando Mbembeni. A 24-year-old model trying to make a living out of it but I'm still growing from this each day. I'm a final year student at Cput, I am doing public administration in governance. I'm live in Langa, Cape Town. I'm a very friendly person that anyone would like to hang out with I know that because I make friends everywhere, I go. I care for people and I like serving them. I have a heart of a servant

How is the Covid19 pandemic affecting you as a South African model?

Well it has affected me so bad because I must find other things to do besides modeling and academics and those are the things, I enjoy doing the most. I could only do one my hobby over this lockdown which is reading books since I couldn't go for shoots, all my shoot dates were cancelled, and some were postponed. But I have hope that when this is over, it’s going to feel like a brand-new world despite what is happening now

How do you keep in shape?

I believe that the petite shape is in my genes because I'm not someone that goes to the gym. I'm been always a petite shape, but I've started exercising since it's lockdown because I don’t have things to do lately.

Who is your role model and why?

My role model is Mother Theressa. A nun woman that was so kind and generous to everyone. Her kindness is worth to be praised because she has touched hearts and have changed lives.

5. We recently read about a 14year old who was raped by a photographer in one of the leading newspapers, how do you make sure you are safe when you go to shoots?

I’m so sad that such is happening in our industry. Whenever I get a gig to work on, I first search if its legit and how far it is from me. I'm a woman and there's no woman that is safe in this world that we live in. I make such a check the photographer’s references, how people recommend the photographer and how professionally they work, so that I can be safe.

6. How is the modeling industry in Cape

Town?

It’s a big industry with a lot competition that is tiring. Some get recognized, some do not. I believe that everyone has the potential to make a good model and modeling has been nothing but fun to me.

7. What is the first thing you want to do as soon as the Covid19 pandemic is over?

Take beach shoots hopefully by September this pandemic would be over, and the sun would be greeting us here in cape town��

8. What are your plans for 2021?

My plans for 2021 are to further my studies. And enter for miss South Africa. Hopefully I'll make it

9. What advice would you give a young woman who wants to be a model?

I'll advise them to do modeling as their passion because it requires patience and you must know you not going to be always a winner, but you are not a looser just because you didn't take the crown yet. Your time is coming and expect new faces and new talents in this industry that's the art of modeling.