Flamboyant media personality and Sompire kids clothing brand CEO Somizi Mhlongo shared a video reflecting on the nine years he has been a judge of Mzansi Magic’s music talent show Idols SA.
The talent search, a wing of the global brand Idols closed its curtains last Saturday, November 4th, after 19 years of existence. The first season of the show had judges such as Penny Lebyan, Dave Thompson and Randal Abrahams shortly joined by mama Mara Louw from its the second season.
Somizi joined the show on its 11th season staying until he became longest serving judge accompanied by Thembi Seete and Tabure Thabo Bogopa on the final season.
Pouring his heart in the video and sharing that he wanted to cry he at the finale, Somizi shared:
“I was telling my colleagues at Metro FM this morning that, I can boldly stand on a mountain and say that Idols is probably the only place that I’ve worked at for nine years where I can boldly and proudly say it was a non-toxic environment. That place was heaven on earth and it sadness me that I have to speak about it in past test but everything comes to an end and it gives a new opportunity for a new beginning or new era.”
Somizi added:
“I had the best experience in a working environment in that place. From the channel to the production house, to the cast. I don’t know what happens to the contestants because we never work or we never see the contestants except when we are judging.”
“I have never seen a place where everybody is happy to be there, everybody is happy for one another but the level of respect everyone has for each other. From the guy that does my mic (microphone) to the guy that does my in-ear, to the ladies that do make-up, I have my own glam squad but we mingle with the ladies that do make-up and the guys that do hair. From the drivers, security to the producer.”
He then went on to mention a few names of some of the people who meant a lot to him adding:
“Proverb, Gavin, Alegra, to Chad, I have a strong bond with Chad who phones every week, Somizi what would you like to eat this week. To everybody guys, that environment was amazing.”
The Masked Singer SA investigator also thank Mzansi Magic, Multi Choice, MNet adding that they would regularly check up on them and that they looked after them making sure that they got jobs beyond just judging Idols.
“When I joined Idols I was famous, but the day after Idols was launched with me, I became super famous. I was a star but I became a super star because of Idols. They took my brand and my stardom to another level and I ran with it, and today I’m still running with it.”
He finished off saying:
“I don’t think I’d be where I am, possibly I would, but I don’t think I would have been as great or big and influential as I am today if it wasn’t for South African Idols and for that I will always be grateful.”
@somg63♬ original sound – somizi
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