Photoshoot by Kingi Kingibe
We had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Zandi about her amazing career. Check out the interview below!
Hi, Zandi! Thank you for granting the interview. Your career is soaring and we’re excited to speak with you about. What do you enjoy most about acting, producing, and modeling?
I honestly believe that acting has made me a better person. I have so much more compassion, empathy, and understanding for people and I believe it comes from the practice of observing others and then responding. Producing is so detail-oriented, and it forces me to think on my feet and prepare for every worst case scenario possible but has a solution for all of it. I’m very new to modeling, but it has already challenged me to let go of any self-doubt and feelings of unworthiness.
What inspired you to take this career path?
The entertainment industry has been a part of upbringing with my close family members playing pivotal roles in the industry in South Africa. When I was studying for my Bachelor’s in Social Sciences at the University of Cape Town, I decided to really focus on the media because of the magnitude of the influence it has. I believe my purpose is to inspire others to live their best lives and to imagine and create the world they want to live in. Oprah Winfrey has been a huge powerhouse influence on my outlook on career goals.
Let’s talk about the importance of branding yourself. What advice can you share with aspiring talent?
Human beings are phenomenal at branding one another and I think my branding earlier in life was that I was this one-dimensional upright leader, but so much of my brand now is about being unapologetic. I aspire to be a fearless and kind woman that empowers others to be themselves. People will go where you tell them to- so you tell them who you are and they won’t have a choice but to accept it or move on.
What has been your biggest challenge in the film and modeling industries?
The misconception that has arisen with everyone’s use of the current buzzword “diversity”. The word itself is getting more mention with very little action. The diversity people are casting is pretty much ethically ambiguous, which is still playing into the traditions of Eurocentric standards of beauty by being a palatable person of color.
What’s the ultimate direction of your career?
I auditioned for a huge role that when I read the pilot it seemed like an actual real leap into the representation of plus size women. When the project aired on TV I saw that it was still the same ideas surrounding the plus size community and the potential to catapult the world of such characters remained untouched. I am so excited to take on roles that normalize the presence and beauty of plus size women and don’t justify the adoration of such women by their usefulness as a partner but embrace them as they are- no conditions.
How can fans-to-be gain access to you socially?
Instagram: @zandizim
Snapchat: zandizim
Twitter: @royaltitle_zim
Who or what are your biggest influences and why?
Idris Elba is such a compelling artist that puts his passion before his popularity into every project. He is so fearless and unapologetic and I feel like that type of freedom is the reason why he continues to grow in all of his talents. He really protects his love of his craft and with his busy schedule and heavy demands, he still manages to exude so much joy and fulfillment.
I absolutely adore Shonda Rhimes. Every time I think I know her resume back-to-front, she turns around and surprises me with her consistent hustle and grind. Her brain is an actual wonderland and she is a boss.
When looking forward on your career, what do you hope to achieve and why?
I truly want to make my parents proud. They have been the greatest source of influence in making me who I am today and their compassion and huge hearts have created a desire in me to touch people’s hearts.
Everyone is fighting a battle and the form of escape that entertainment gives is genuine medicine to the soul. If I could give someone the chance to escape their reality, but imagine a new one that they feel motivated enough to fight for- I would have made a contribution to society that I am proud of.
Do you have any additional skills that you add to your acting?
I do jazz piano, marimba, improvisation and I love knitting- I am proud of my knitting skills. I can also engage in the most basic of conversations in Sesotho and Xhosa, which are indigenous South African languages.
If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose this career? Would you do anything differently?
I would start a lot earlier and really allow me to build my career and do School at the same time. I would also trust my gut so much more when I stayed in LA knowing very well, I wanted to move back to New York City. I feel like NY is a lot more my speed and plug for my career.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about your career?
I recently produced a film called, “Are You Really Gone” which will be hitting the festival circuits in the 2018/2019 season and I starred in a film entitled “Priceless” about South African traditional lobola negotiations and its relevance in contemporary times. I also have a body positive documentary out on YouTube made by Sean Dylan Perry called “Baring It All.”
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