Five minutes with model Khensani Mokhare

Khensani Mokhare is a third year student at AFDA, an aspiring actress and a model.

Last month she represented SA at the International Model and Talent Association’s convention in New York which offers a platform to scout for the best new talent in the entertainment industry.

What with the convention having launched the careers of models and actors such as Elijah Wood, Eva Longoria, Katie Holmes, Ashton Kutcher and Jessica Biel, Mokhare hopes it will offer her the boost she needs to make it in the industry.

We spoke to the 20-year-old to find out what’s on her cultural radar and what food she loves indulging in.

What music tracks are you loving right now?

Amapiano [musicians] have been releasing good music lately, music I’ve been able to play on repeat whenever I need to get my energy up. With school hectic in my third year of Live Performance and having performance practicals, I always need to rock up to my classes with enough energy after a long night of writing essays. Some of my favourite amapiano tracks [are] Selema, Dali Nguwe, Lyf Styl and Ipiano e’Soweto. 

What food do you enjoy?

One thing I love is food. Whether its fast food or eating at restaurants. I love eating out. One of my favourite restaurants is Burger King. This year they brought their cuppa cakes to the market and they’ve been a life-saver when I need a break from reality. Other obsessions are pizza and sushi. I need to have both at least once a month for balance. My favourite pizza is the large peperoni deluxe from Roman’s Pizza and my go to sushi restaurant is Yasong [in Midrand]. I am never disappointed. 

What do you like watching in the cinema?

I’ve always found films interesting. It is the “believability” aspect of a film that either captures my attention or not. Now that I’ve been studying at AFDA, an arts and motion picture institution, learning and understanding the behind the scenes and post-production of a film is fascinating.

I love my action movies, and here and there a few horror movies. I’m loyal to Marvel movies. These movies have the right amount of action and visual effects to keep me entertained. I’ve watched all the Marvel movies more than once, and I’m about to watch Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

And on TV?

My biggest obsessions with TV series are the ones that deal with crime, like CSI, NCIS, Law and Order and Hawaii Five-0. I’ve watched almost every episode of these shows. I find the way they solve crimes fascinating . I’d love to be able to solve a crime and learn something. Sometimes I feel like a trained detective having watched so many episodes. 

What health trends do you follow?

Knowing how much junk food I eat, I need to keep in shape if I’m going to be a successful model. In grade 11 I discovered I like to go to the gym and it now it feels like a second way of life — after food. Everyone has their favourite muscle group when exercising, and with me this is legs.

What travel destinations do you have on your bucket list?

When I was younger my family travelled overseas often. When I look back at all the photos, I see how young I was and the glow I had from the experience. I now have the urge to start travelling again. I’ve already started to prep my family by travelling within the borders with friends. We travelled to Cape Town for New Year’s Eve fun at the beginning of the year.

We’ve also travelled to Fumani Game Lodge in Limpopo, to catch a break during our first term in third year. Our latest trip was to Durban, to Zimbali to celebrate my friend’s birthday together. Hopefully in December I’ll take my first holiday out of the country without my family. I’m hoping to travel to Bali to see the beautiful scenery.