New O-Access presenter Named!

By Nomphelo "Lelo" Ndzimela , 29 Jul 2010 | One Comment

Dineo MoeketsiThe new O-Access presenter has been named as 21-year-old Dineo Moeketsi.

The Kwa-Thema-raised National School of the Arts graduate beat out five other contestants in the final stages of the O-Access presenter search to take the most highly coveted job in entertainment on the African continent.

“Tears, tears, tears. The minute they called my name I gasped and said, “Really” then water works just kept coming,” says an elated Dineo of her win.

Former O-Access presenter, Nonhle Thema said Dineo stood out for several reasons. “She was able to take direction from us and that made us see just how hungry for this job she was,” the V Entertainment host confides. “Dineo’s beauty and wonderful personality were also factors in earning her the job.”

The search for the O-Access presenter was judged by Thema, Channel O’s Solly Moeng, and US producer Thomas Gibson. It saw the contenders go through a rigorous selection process, including mock interviews with “difficult” celebrities as well as real life A-list red carpets.

Dineo – who has previously sung backing vocals for Flash Republic and acted in Soul City 10 - describes the audition process as “nerve wrecking for the most part because you never knew what to expect”. She believes, however that she earned the job because of the motivation and passion she showed, whether on or off camera. “Staying humble and true to myself, I think, also played a role.”

For Dineo, O-Access is a show that sends a message to young Africans – one she can definitely identify with. “It says any dream is possible - and I hope that through allowing myself to shine I subconsciously enable others to do the same.”

And her dream interview subject? “Without a doubt in my mind I would like to interview Kimora Lee Simmons because she’s absolutely amazing from a creative and personal perspective. A lot of young women my age including myself are looking up to and aspiring towards that kind of greatness.”

As for what Dineo believes she will bring to the show, following the high benchmark set by Nonhle she says it’s a fresh perspective on how celebrity culture is viewed. “I also want to be the first Dineo to hit the entire world by storm!”

The new season of O-Access is being shot over the next few months and will air in February 2011.

* Channel O is available across the continent on DStv channel 320.