“Video vixen K–”

“I’m not a video vixen, I don’t like being called that actually.”

“Uhm okay, you are a…..”

“Rather call me a video model or just a model. Girls  don’t understand that once you are labelled as that you’re limited to doing any other line of work sometimes. You’ll just get called for videos and nothing else“.

Model, presenter, and branding student Keitumetse Naomi Noinyane is more than just a girl in a weave; her time in the media business has shown how hard work and determination pays off. She’s made music video appearances with popular artists such as Khuli Chana and Kwesta and modelled for big magazines like True Love and Nubian Bride, just to name a few. That’s not all though. K.Naomi is also a talented presenter and recently she got a shot at showcasing her bubbly personality on Channel O’s interactive music show iRequest Editions.

“My life hasn’t changed at all since I got the Channel O gig, difference is my hustle has got better“, stated Naomi.

Naomi has been part of the media scene for a while, so her new TV gig doesn’t come as a surprise. She made the necessary moves that landed her the opportunity of gracing our television screens. With that said, she has faced a few ups and downs during her rise on the success ladder. She never had it easy and has always had to prove she is more than just a pretty face.

“I hustled my ass off for the Channel O thing. I was always nagging a friend of mine (Thomas Gumede) that if anything comes up please hit me up! And eventually he did. That’s how the opportunity sort of came about.”

K.Naomi image means she is usually considered as the “popular pretty girl” and that means she had to struggle to stand out from the other girls. “Getting gigs for modelling, TV and so forth was kind of hard because I was always told that I look like another Minnie, Boity or a Bonang. So I really had to prove that I’m different so that I can get these opportunities and advance my hustle.”

Being on music videos also has it’s advantages and disadvantages. It obviously gained her the necessary reputation so that she was able to become a regular model who would be called for some of the most popular videos.

“Being on videos is cool. It gets you out there and all, but it really has its downfalls. When you are in videos people really don’t take you seriously when looking for a job outside being a just a ‘vixen’.”

She fixes her cap and emphasises the next point with some seriousness,

“Girls don’t think! If people have already seen your ass bouncing around in videos, do you think they will hire you for a corporate gig? Or a Gala Event? No! They already have that video vixen image of you.”

She clearly had a difficulty proving herself to other clients that she can do more than just model in videos. Regardless, K didn’t let that come in between what she wanted and where she wanted to be in her career.

Now she’s there, people sometimes have a different perception about her and who she has become with all the fame. Change – who you spend your time with, where you party or chill when you are free – comes with the territory for many artists and celebrities, and Naomi can be spotted at some of the most up-scale events hanging out with the best in the game. In terms of that, Naomi has also faced a lot of unpleasant feedback from some of her old friends who knew her before all the hype around her.

“I’ve lost a few friends who actually say that I think I’m better than them because I hang out with LES or Lungile Radu and not with them any more. They would also say that I think I’m better than them because I have  a pretty face and I’m making money with that.”

She has a smirk on her face before she gets into her next statement,

“Listen, not to be egotistic or anything but I AM A PRETTY FACE and I’m proud of that. People think I hang out with these guys because I want to be popular too and it’s actually because I know these people on a personal basis.”

Touching on the relationship part of things, I wonder if K.Naomi has a long list of guys trying to “get” with her. She is not really a fan of being approached by men who want her number and so on and says that,

“Look if I want something I go for it, same applies with a guy. If I wanted a guy I’d go for him and actually ask him out myself. It’s a pity I’m taken already so I don’t have to do that.”

The go-getter is certainly making sure that she goes for everything she wants and she’s making her mark in the industry while she’s at it. Definitely, Keitumetse Naomi Noinyane is someone to look out for in the near future.

For more Innerviews with your favourite influential people follow me @Thy_Black_Hippy

Photography by @Ric3hard