Lights, camera, action

She is a presenter on the show Sistahood, a youth television programme for girls, that is aired on Etv every Monday afternoon.

Chanley attended St Dunstan’s College and is currently a full-time BA Corporate Communication student at the University of Johannesburg. She also works for an events planning company.

“Presenting was never the plan, but I am really enjoying it,” said Chanley.

“My friend (Nomuzi Mabena, a former Miss Benoni) is more into it than me and she got me into it.”

She auditioned at a production company in Randburg, last year, and was officially employed for the show in May, this year.

“I am really proud of myself; I am more confident now,” she said.

“Seeing the product on TV afterwards is amazing.”

Chanley explained that the job provides her with the opportunity to see other cultures and visit disadvantaged areas.

“For example, we went to a school in a disadvantaged area that enrolled in a dance programme, which was really cool to be part of,” she said.

When asked about the type of influence she wants to have on for girls who watch the programme, her answer was: “That’s the cool thing about Sistahood as a whole; it’s a show that helps young girls and guides them in the right direction while having fun.”

Chanley said it means a lot to her when she receives response from viewers who say they are positively affected by the programme.

She has interviewed South African personalities such as Danny K and Anele Mdoda, and covered the Miss Earth SA 2013 pageant and the Russian ballet production, Swan Lake, which recently ran in South Africa.

Although her dream is to open her own PR company, she would like to further her career in presenting.

“I am still trying to perfect the arts of presenting and, once I am more experienced, I would love to grow in this career path,” she said.

Her advice to people who want to follow in her footsteps is: “You just have to keep persevering –when everyone else loses hope in you, you should keep pushing yourself.”