Despite the challenges, former Big Brother Umlilo housemate Siphesihle Lekwadu, popularly known as Mshini, remained determined throughout her journey in the house. One of her biggest struggles? Speaking English continuously.
“If you think you know English, go to Big Brother,” she joked. “That’s where you’ll speak it for a long time. I’ve never spoken English for this long.”
The 23-year-old from Zola, Soweto, recently exited the reality show but looks back on her experience with pride. Speaking to Big Brother host Smash Africa, she admitted that adapting to the language demands of the house was tough, but she found creative ways to cope.
“I remember there are English words that I created on my own, and people didn’t notice,” she revealed. “I’d say a word, and they would ask me what it meant. I’d explain, and they would end up using the words.”
Mshini acknowledged that she needed to improve her vocabulary before entering the house, but even with preparation, she sometimes struggled. “At times, it would run away, and you’d forget even the smallest things, like what a bottle is called,” she said.
She also recalled being told by fellow housemates that she needed to further her education. “Now I need to go back to school, learn, and study because I was told I didn’t study,” she admitted. “In that house, if you are weak, you are dead.”
Despite not winning the competition, Mshini is grateful for the opportunity and the recognition it has brought her. “I’m from Zola, and it’s like going from zero to hero. People are asking to take pictures of me and even kiss my hand,” she said, overwhelmed by the support.
For her, simply being in the Big Brother Umlilo house was a dream come true. “When I heard my name in the house, I was constantly in awe, remembering that I was there and doing something significant,” she said.
