Taking over the screens: The new TV girls

With a bag full of tricks, these girls have taken the showbiz scene by storm, commanding numbers and defining a generation.

Claudia Naisabwa

She loves dancing, it makes her happy, she says. With an infectious attitude and bubbly demeanour, Claudia Naisabwa is carving out a promising showbiz future.

When she is not dancing, she is writing songs and singing. When she is not writing scripts, she is an actress on the set of a film project. 

A TV host with enviable energy, Claudia, 21, is one of the most sought-after influencers.

Claudia commands the most phenomenal and versatile youth TV show on KTN Home, Str8up, a weekly production where new music talents get to shine and young creatives come to bloom.

Her talent was spotted after participating in a TikTok video. Her sister had convinced her to do the Naanzaje Diamond music video challenge.

“My sister Nareyo dragged me into it. I actually used to think joining TikTok video challenges was a waste of time. Frankly, to me, this was just another chance to enjoy myself. I never even thought of TikTok fame, in as much as I knew I was really a talented singer and dancer, which have been my passion since I was a child,” she says.

Claudia is in a new class of TV stars. It is a generation of multifaceted media personalities juggling between mainstream and new media.

Pulsers, and generally Gen-Zs see them as their role models.

In this happy space, their act, even a meme post could translate into a showbiz headline for blogs.

Asked what she felt about being compared to Azeezah Hashim, the youthful radio and TV host who recently quit her enviable Teen Republic host gig after two years, Claudia applauds her counterpart as a good host.        

“Azeezah and I are good friends. We have different personalities that make us both stand out, but I believe we are a vibe,” Claudia says.

Azeezah Hashim

One of the youngest radio and TV hosts in the country, Azeezah, 23, is a go-getter. better known as Azeezah aka Media Messiah, her real name is Aziza Wanjiru Hashim.

“I am a radio and TV presenter, an emcee, a voice-over artist, commercial model and now a deejay. Previously a news anchor and reporter, my journey has been long, full of ups and downs and lots of ‘nos’, but I’m glad that we’re slowly getting there,” she says.

The University of Nairobi BA in Journalism and Media Studies who recently took charge of a leading media show says she started knocking on doors in 2017.

“I’m still in awe, to be honest. It hasn’t yet hit me that I am the new host of the show. It’s so far the biggest milestone in my career considering the fact that it’s the biggest show in the country so let’s just say I’m extremely grateful to God,” she says.

She adds: “My new role is quite similar to my previous duties only at a bigger platform with a bigger team.”

Just like Claudia, Azeezah is a good corporate MC, an exceptional influencer and an adaptable deejay. She started off as a corporate MC, a career she loved.

Even though her dream career was to be a pilot and also received an admission letter to study medicine, she fell for entertainment media.

“Nothing beats doing what you love and getting paid for it. Some of the major highlights in my day-to-day career activities involve meeting different people through the interviews I do,” says Azeezah.

She says Bonang Matheba from South Africa, Oprah Winfrey, Toke Makinwa from Nigeria and Kenya’s Amina Abdi Rabar are some of the media personalities who have inspired her journey.

“I’m ready and I’m hungry for more so the Media Messiah is here to change the game completely. To every youngin’ out there, please don’t be boxed and don’t ever let anyone tell you that any industry is oversaturated,” she says.

“If you believe in something, ignore the noise, pursue it and give it all you’ve got. You’ll be proud of the fact that you never gave up,” Azeezah goes on.

Azeezah’s fashion sense is bold and daring. A sense of self-expression.

Kalondu Musyimi

Some call her Liz, but she prefers Kalondu Musyimi.

Since joining the media a few years ago, she has been at the forefront of showbiz with a passion of breaking news and carrying exclusive interviews.

She is a TV presenter, writer and content creator who has also turned her popularity into a brand – Kalondu Musyimi the Influencer.

“In my role as a showbiz host, I get to interact with some of the most influential celebrities, I get to pick their brains on certain issues involving their lives, lifestyle and current trends,” says Kalondu.

“Nowadays everyone can share content on their phone and be the ‘TV’ girl that everyone once wanted to be. You create your own platform on social media and get to network with sources, other content creators and people from all walks of life.

“I get to travel to places I have never been to before and brush shoulders with all the favourite celebs. My job is fun. It is like living a dream. It is like making a living out of leisure and everything you love,” she says.

South African media personality Bonang Matheba is one of the people this star looks up to. “She is one of the best to ever do it,” says Kalondu.

Kalondu is your go-to girl when it comes to celebrity gossip interviews and exclusive bold personality stories.

“It is all about having good networks with celebrities and understanding the job as well as keeping a professional distance while at it. Once you make one good network, the chain grows and grows and before you know it, the entire industry is in your hands,” she says.

Betty Kithinji aka Miss B

Betty Kithinji aka Miss B is a Project and Talent Manager at Stage Presence Media (SPM). She is the face behind SPM Buzz.

Last weekend, Miss B was awarded the Best Talent of the Year manager during the People’s Choice Awards 2023 held in Nairobi.

“I am happy to have won the award and I give thanks. It is all about the support I got from my family, fans and friends. I thank God and everyone who supported me in this as this means so much to me,” Miss B told Pulse.

“Consistency could easily give you the TV girl tag in a short while as compared to the past. Execution is a bit easier nowadays in terms of structure. You get to be creative in your own way and bring out the best as per your capabilities,” she says.

She says technology and innovation as the number one attributes in shaping one’s path.

“My favourite media icons include Julie Gichuru, Caroline Mutuko and Janet Mbugua. I grew up watching and loving what they do and I never knew I’d get to a place where I’d interview one of them. It’s such a pleasure being here now,” she says.

Miss B herself is a dreamer who is goal-oriented.

As a TV media personality, Youtuber and influencer Miss B says the strength of the content-creating business is pegged on the networks one makes and the precision one has in executing the job.

Miss B hangs out with her friends in her leisure time. She loves to travel and relax with her favourite podcasts.