Photo of Samantha Mochele

Alina’s journey: The shebeen owner balancing spirituality and reality TV fame

2y By Samantha Mochele

Alina Sishange, the owner of Alina’s Place, a popular shebeen in Soweto shared how she manages her busy life running the shebeen, her spiritual work and her reality TV appearances.

According to Showmax, Shebeen Queens is a reality show on Showmax that provides an inside look at the lives of three influential women behind popular Soweto shebeens Alina Sishange, Big Mama and Xoliswa Shwayimba.

Sanelisiwe Mhlati caught up with Alina of the Showmax Original reality show Shebeen Queens, when asked what motivated her to join the reality show, Alina replied, “Something deep inside told me to go for it, so I did.” Reflecting on her experience with the other cast members of Shebeen Queens, she shared, “They’re amazing ladies, and we have fun working together. We’ve become like family.”

Alina’s shebeen officially opened in 2012, although she had been operating before that, but she faced legal issues due to not having the licenses. She acknowledges the fierce competition in the industry, noting that competitors would even call the police on her before she had her liquor license.

In the first and second episodes of Shebeen Queens, Alina stands out as a direct and candid person. She has a heartfelt conversation with her younger daughter, Mbali, about her future and discusses with her daughter, Surprise the importance of preparing a plan for taking over the shebeen. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) appreciate Alina’s warmth and her no-nonsense attitude.

Alina further shared with Sanelisiwe that she believes viewers will appreciate her authenticity, as she doesn’t pretend to be anyone else. She enjoys drama and often initiates it, while also loving fashion and maintaining a glamorous appearance.

She ensures that her shebeen remains an adult-only space, people going there are around 40 years old. Looking to the future, Alina hopes to expand her business by acquiring a larger space to serve more customers. She is also preparing her daughter, Surprise, to take over the business.

 

Also see: How Big Mama went from running a Soweto shebeen to starring on Showmax

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