Bio
Thando Hlwatika is a South African marketer best known for being a contestant on the third season of the Mzansi Magic reality competition television series Big Brother Mzansi, in 2014.
Big Brother Bio
With a post grad Diploma in Marketing Management from the University of Cape Town, Thando (23) describes herself as an extrovert, impassioned, funny, crazy and dramatic.
She enjoys going out with friends, shopping, listening to music, relaxing with great company and "sipping on some bubbles." She says her bad habit is that, "I am messy (I am very hygienic) but I tend to believe in organised chaos".
Happiest when the people that she loves are happy and when "I feel a sense of holistic progression in my life in the direction of my dreams", she dislikes condescending people who look down on others.
She has three sisters, loves rich and spicy food, has two dogs named Dina and Gucci, and speaks English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho and Tswana.
One of her favourite books is Awakening the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins. A "hopeless romantic", her favourite movies are The Vow and The Notebook. She also enjoys the TV series 2 Broke Girls, Keeping up with the Kardashians, America's Next Top Model, The New Normal, Modern Family and Family Guy.
One of her favourite actors is Taye Diggs ("I love me some hot chocolate") and for music, she switches on to Josh Groban, John Legend, Adele and Nicky Minaj.
Thando's role models include Oprah Winfrey, Khanyi Dlomo and Basetsana Khumalo. "They inspire me because they are strong black women who have harnessed the power of marrying their dreams and talents to be icons and create a legacy in their respective fields."
The best advice she get got was from her mom. "Never settle for mediocrity, aim to be the best and among the best." Thando's passionate about empowering bright minds from disadvantaged backgrounds. "I was a volunteer tutor for Shawco, an NGO that used to go to schools in disadvantaged areas."
About South Africa, Thando says, "We are a nation that has a hard past but have refused to be hardened in nature by it." On Big Brother Mzansi she is expecting "a lot of drama and suspense, and to see lots of hot guys."
She says her friends would be shocked she kept her Big Brother Mzansi participation a secret but they would be supportive. "I know they know I got that million Rand entertainment vibe about me!"