A video of Big Brother Africa: The Chase housemates, Maria Nepembe of Namibia and Beverly Osu of Nigeria, kissing each other on a beach went viral on social media over the weekend.
Beverly is known to many entertainment followers in Nigeria for the many controversies that have dogged her before, during and after her participation in the M-Net produced reality show.
For those who know little or nothing about Maria, we present these 12 facts.
- Maria Dhiginina Kauna Nepembe was born on October 4, 1988 and hails from Ondangwa in Northern Namibia.
- She studied public relations at the University of Namibia
- She is a model, TV and radio host, singer, actress, fashion designer and reality TV star.
- She is the first ever model to host the Namibia Annual Music Awards (NAMA).
- Maria became a household name in Namibia in 2012 after acting as the leading lady in PDK’s hit Dirty Kandeshi’s music video as well as in The Dogg’s numerous music videos.
- Her biggest break was in 2013 after she was chosen as one of the housemates to represent Namibia in Africa’s biggest reality TV game show Big Brother Africa: The Chase.
- The entertainment all-rounder broke off her very public relationship with radio presenter, Walla, after Big Brother.
- She went on to become a fashion designer herself after launching her much-anticipated clothing line, RIA.
- She is regarded as the first Namibian media personality to have a full clothing line that’s also accessible to people outside the country.
- The model launched Nepembe Foundation to help feed the less fortunate, especially young children.
- Maria Nepembe is one of the most followed Namibians on social media. She has 148k followers on Instagram and 123k on Twitter.
- She is best friends with compatriot and Big Brother Africa: The Case winner, Dillish Mathews.
