Who is Khanyisa outside of OPW?
I was partly raised in the Eastern Cape because when I was seven, my family and I moved to Pretoria where I attended school and later matriculated. Raised by both my parents, I have two siblings – an older brother and sister. I grew up surrounded by love and I must admit, I was very spoilt!
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The support my family has given me on my new journey has been amazing. They are thrilled, and have made it a priority to tell everyone they know not to miss an episode of OPW. This is truly a blessing, not just for me but for them, too. I completed my undergraduate studies in 2012, obtaining a Bachelor of Social Science Degree in Journalism and Media Studies, Anthropology and Sociology from Rhodes University. I went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Motion Picture Medium, majoring in Television Producing from AFDA with a cum laude. I also hold a Master of Fine Arts degree majoring in Story Adaptation and Screenplay (Screenwriting) from AFDA.
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How did you land the OPW gig?
I joined a talent management in 2019. A few months later, my agent told me that OPW was holding private auditions and that my name had been put forward. I was nervous about the audition because I had never considered myself as a TV presenter before. I went for the audition and as they say, the rest is history.
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What challenges have you experienced so far?
Shooting my first episode was nerve-racking because I had no reference to any past shows I had done. Even though I was familiar with being on set and coordinating or producing a show, I had never been on camera. So, a lot was going through my mind: “Did they make the right choice?” and “Can I really do this?” My biggest challenge was believing that I could do this, and that I was chosen for a reason. Only God can truly attest to this. My director Patrick Mpofu and the technical crew made me believe that I was capable. They made me feel so at ease that I eventually just started flowing. With OPW, being yourself is very important because you don’t have a script to follow – you only have a format, so who you are must really shine through.
How are you dealing with the public scrutiny since your debut?
What warms my heart is the love I am getting from South Africa; I never imagined that I would be so well-received, especially stepping into a show with so many big shoes to fill. I am truly grateful, and take some of it as constructive criticism. I don’t take anything negative to heart because there is so much love. But, I do feel that although we’re all entitled to our opinions, people should use their words wisely and be mindful of the power that they can have. I choose to put my focus on those who love and appreciate my work. I will continue to learn and grow. I appreciate and try to acknowledge their positive comments by replying on my social media platforms.
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Has presenting the show changed your perception of love?
Presenting the show has made me believe that true love does exist, and that regardless of your height, weight, language, culture, beliefs or age, you will find the man or woman of your dreams. I’ve met couples who faced so many challenges, but still conquered. They put love first, and put in the effort, right up until finally giving us the opportunity to see them walking down the aisle. I’m a sucker for love, and the fact that I get to celebrate this with so many couples is a blessing.
