1. What was your first job/where did you start?

My first proper job was a job to facilitate the wardrobe design for a musical production in Johannesburg and soon after as an events manager for an events planning company in Durban.

2. What made you want to build a career in your profession?

After having taken the time out of working and studies to enter Masterchef, I then decided that food and being creative was definitely the right path for me but I didn’t want to do the convention cooking. So I wanted to build my career within culinary and explore the options that that field has to offer.

3. Describe a day in your life at DRUM magazine

A simple day at DRUM magazine includes researching food trends, recipes and styling method in preparation for a shoot. Coming up with the theme or concept for a food shoot. Sourcing props and ingredients. Testing the recipes, styling and shooting. Compiling layout and double checking everything to make it as perfect as possible.

4. How long have you been with Media24 and what makes your day in the office?

I am currently in my ninth month with Media24 specifically DRUM magazine. The one thing that truly makes my day at the office is being able to come research and learn how other people have made something so simple look amazing. Having not come from a culinary background and being self-taught in everything food, it’s such a challenge but such a rewarding one when I am able to get it right.

5. How do you unwind behind the scenes?

I have been doing boxing and find that the best way to unwind. It’s so different from anything I’ve done that it allows me to just release tension and also unblock my mind to make space to generate new thoughts and ideas.

6. What is your aim for the magazine?

My aim for the magazine is to expose readers to different ingredients and cooking methods that they wouldn’t have ordinary have thought of. Showing our readers simple ways of using ingredients that they might have ordinarily been able to try. To lift the way our readers see food and just build a lifestyle of food love and appreciate.

7. What has been one of the most important lessons you have learnt?

I think the most important lesson I’ve learnt is to be self-reliant. You cannot always depend on others to supply you with everything that you need to grow and progress you need to also work just as hard and equip yourself with the necessary tools to push yourself to be able to learn.

8. Do you have a few interviewing tips for journalists out there?

I have never had to interview anyone for my line of work but I’ve had to do a lot of research to learn how to be able to do my job better. So in that regard I think you can never ask [enough] questions. Ask until you understand. You are never too old, too wise or too good at what you [do] to learn something new every day.

9. What are your thoughts about Social Media breaking news before print media?

As much as Social Media breaking news before print media is great, exciting and you feel like you have instant access to the story, it then creates an appetiser for print media to push the news further to give you the meat in your story with facts and extensive insight to the headline story. The problem with Social Media news sometimes is that because it’s so quick and off the cuff, you find that you are waiting and waiting for the full story or its very fragmented as the “breaking” news isn’t always precise enough.

10. Which person in the industry do you think is making waves?

For me personally I really think Neo Motaung is doing an amazing job in her field of broadcast journalism. She not only is passionate about her work but has steadily built her career. It’s such a treat for me to have women in media to watch and be able to observe then and know which is the right direction to move to be able to take positive steps in career growth.

11. Is there something that the DRUM reader needs to know about you and what you like?

Beside my love of food, I have a huge passion for fashion having studied and received my Diploma in Fashion and Textiles. I am so intrigued by fashion trends and anything fashion related. I really do enjoy anything that allows to me to be creative and express myself in a creative manner. So I am constantly in search for creative things and ideas to keep me motivated and my mind working.

12. In your opinion, which South African celebrity has grown in leaps and bounds in the past year?

I don’t follow many celebrities but I was recently watching an interview with Nolwazi Shange who is an actress nominated in the 2013 SAFTAs. She immediately grabbed my attention as [she] spoke so passionately about her work and I was instantly drawn by this. I looked her up and was so inspired by how much she had achieved, not only in the past year but just her career in general. I don’t know her personally but she just came across as being so genuine about who she is, what she does but still remains so humble.