KELZ TAKES THE CAKE!
YOU South Africa|6 April 2023
Lesego Tlhabi is setting her alter ego, Coconut Kelz, aside to focus on her new role on The Great South African Bake Off
MELON RADEBE
KELZ TAKES THE CAKE!

LIKE many a middle-class South African she's dabbled in producing baked goods during 2020's most severe lockdown periods. Not for her the classic sourdough though she's more of a cake kind of girl.

Although we're finally out of lockdown life, Lesego Tlhabi is still a big fan of whipping together a confectionary every so often, which should stand her in good stead for her new role.

The 34-year-old is the new host of The Great South African Bake Off, the local version of the hit UK show, The Great British Bake Off.

South Africans will get to see another side of Lesego beyond Coconut Kelz, the character fans have come to know and love, as she takes over presenting the show from comedian Anne Hirsch and late celebrity chef Lentswe BhenguMafoko.

Kelz, the blonde middle-class DA supporter with the distinctive private school accent, won't disappear entirely. But she won't be in front of the cameras when filming starts in April.

Lesego, who'd watched every season of the British show, was thrilled to be able to audition, but didn't think she'd get the job because there were many well-known presenters in the room trying out too.

"This is the most exciting thing that has happened in my career," she says.

Many would think Kelz is one of her career highlights - and she is. But although her alter ego has brought Lesego heaps of fame, she's brought her some heartache too.

SHE'S been bullied online and has been threatened with assault, Lesego says. Even her love life has been affected.

There have been men who've admitted they're on dates with her just to get know Kelz better, says Lesego, who's currently single. Some of them even pretend they don't know Kelz isn't real.

But Kelz has been important in her life in more ways than one. She allows her to highlight important societal issues - race in particular, Lesego says.

This story is from the 6 April 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the 6 April 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM YOU SOUTH AFRICAView All
BALLON IN THE BAG
YOU South Africa

BALLON IN THE BAG

Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
IT WAS ALL A LIE
YOU South Africa

IT WAS ALL A LIE

A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
YOU South Africa

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'

After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country

time-read
10+ mins  |
14 November 2024
AGREE TO DISAGREE
YOU South Africa

AGREE TO DISAGREE

Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
PAUSE THE CLOCK
YOU South Africa

PAUSE THE CLOCK

Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
MPOOMY ON TOP
YOU South Africa

MPOOMY ON TOP

We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
YOU South Africa

MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME

Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MATT THE RECLUSE
YOU South Africa

MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
A LEAP OF FAITH
YOU South Africa

A LEAP OF FAITH

After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
YOU South Africa

THEY'RE MY KIDS!

This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024