Latest news with #Zimbabwean-born
Perth Now
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Perths' Rue Mupedzi explains why she returned to MasterChef
WA's Rue Mupedzi is back competing on MasterChef again after placing seventh in 2023's season — and she's off to a flying start. Not only has she sailed through last week's Gordon Ramsay challenges, she also wowed guest judge Peter Gilmore with her incredible black forest dessert in last night's episode of the new Back To Win series, which gives 24 former contestants another crack at the MasterChef Australia title. But though the 32-year-old might look self-assured on screen, Mupedzi, who runs cooking courses and caters privately for clients while juggling work as a dental hygienist, admits she still suffers from a bad case of nerves. 'Being back in the MasterChef Kitchen is amazing, but I'm not going to lie: there are always nerves around me,' says the Zimbabwean-born aspiring chef, who moved to Western Australia in 2009 aged 15. 'I have to say though, because I was in the winning team in the first cook, and I had a pretty decent dish in last night's episode, I feel like that is really reaffirming,' she explains. '(It tells me) I am in the right place and I am just as deserving as these great people to be here.' Mupedzi was on the winning team during Gordon Ramsay's first challenge. Credit: Kelly Gardner Mupedzi is best known for winning a challenge on her season of the show that saw her homemade barbecue sauce — or BarbeRue Sauce, as it was comically called — stocked in Coles supermarkets around the country. 'Do you know, I still get Instagram messages to this day saying 'When is your sauce coming back?',' she says proudly. 'I have to remind people: you can make it — (the recipe) is on 10Play!' She says the experience of selling her sauce, plus her time on the series in 2023, was formative in deciding what course her life would take in the years since first appearing on the show. 'The (experience with the) sauce alone was phenomenal, but then I got to work in a pastry shop in Perth, called Whisked The Right Wei,' she explains. 'And I did quite a lot of private cheffing. I have now been all around Perth. '(The show) also gave me confidence; the confidence to solo travel for five weeks in Vietnam and Thailand, where I did cooking classes — that was just before I went back to MasterChef.' Before that phone call came, Mupedzi was back working in the dental surgery, raising funds to embark on an extended trip to France, where she planned to further her culinary skills with a course. She's now reassessing what comes next. 'If I am to take the title of MasterChef Australia, this will really frustrate my trip to France,' she says. 'Because initially I wanted to do a culinary course — I'd already inquired and everything — and the thing was, the judges really reaffirmed to me that I don't really need to do a course because I already have the skills. 'If anything, I'm better off getting some work experience.' Masterchef Australia: Back To Win sees some of the show's biggest names return for another tilt at the crown. Credit: Supplied And that's what she intends to do. But fans shouldn't be too worried — though Mupedzi plans to capitalise on her MasterChef opportunities, and still has plans to visit France, Perth will remain home. 'I will definitely stay in Perth, for sure, but (if I win) I will use that money to open a little dessert bar,' she says. 'I've always wanted to do a champagne and dessert bar, or a macaroon bar. 'I would definitely stay in Perth, but bring back that experience in France and establish something really unique here.' Watch this space.
West Australian
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Rue got this: Perth MasterChef contestant Rue Mupedzi is feeling the fear and doing it anyway
WA's Rue Mupedzi is back competing on MasterChef again after placing seventh in 2023's season — and she's off to a flying start. Not only has she sailed through last week's Gordon Ramsay challenges, she also wowed guest judge Peter Gilmore with her incredible black forest dessert in last night's episode of the new Back To Win series, which gives 24 former contestants another crack at the MasterChef Australia title. But though the 32-year-old might look self-assured on screen, Mupedzi, who runs cooking courses and caters privately for clients while juggling work as a dental hygienist, admits she still suffers from a bad case of nerves. 'Being back in the MasterChef Kitchen is amazing, but I'm not going to lie: there are always nerves around me,' says the Zimbabwean-born aspiring chef, who moved to Western Australia in 2009 aged 15. 'I have to say though, because I was in the winning team in the first cook, and I had a pretty decent dish in last night's episode, I feel like that is really reaffirming,' she explains. '(It tells me) I am in the right place and I am just as deserving as these great people to be here.' Mupedzi is best known for winning a challenge on her season of the show that saw her homemade barbecue sauce — or BarbeRue Sauce, as it was comically called — stocked in Coles supermarkets around the country. 'Do you know, I still get Instagram messages to this day saying 'When is your sauce coming back?',' she says proudly. 'I have to remind people: you can make it — (the recipe) is on 10Play!' She says the experience of selling her sauce, plus her time on the series in 2023, was formative in deciding what course her life would take in the years since first appearing on the show. 'The (experience with the) sauce alone was phenomenal, but then I got to work in a pastry shop in Perth, called Whisked The Right Wei,' she explains. 'And I did quite a lot of private cheffing. I have now been all around Perth. '(The show) also gave me confidence; the confidence to solo travel for five weeks in Vietnam and Thailand, where I did cooking classes — that was just before I went back to MasterChef.' Before that phone call came, Mupedzi was back working in the dental surgery, raising funds to embark on an extended trip to France, where she planned to further her culinary skills with a course. She's now reassessing what comes next. 'If I am to take the title of MasterChef Australia, this will really frustrate my trip to France,' she says. 'Because initially I wanted to do a culinary course — I'd already inquired and everything — and the thing was, the judges really reaffirmed to me that I don't really need to do a course because I already have the skills. 'If anything, I'm better off getting some work experience.' And that's what she intends to do. But fans shouldn't be too worried — though Mupedzi plans to capitalise on her MasterChef opportunities, and still has plans to visit France, Perth will remain home. 'I will definitely stay in Perth, for sure, but (if I win) I will use that money to open a little dessert bar,' she says. 'I've always wanted to do a champagne and dessert bar, or a macaroon bar. 'I would definitely stay in Perth, but bring back that experience in France and establish something really unique here.' Watch this space.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Prince Harry ‘killed spirit of African charity Sentebale after marrying Meghan'
Prince Harry reportedly became 'disinterested' in his Africa-based charity Sentebale following his marriage to Meghan Markle and move to the United States. The Duke of Sussex's apparent withdrawal is said to have 'killed the spirit' of the organisation, which he co-founded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in memory of his late mother, Princess Diana. The claims come amid suggestions that Harry's involvement dwindled significantly after his 2018 wedding and the couple's relocation to North America two years later. The pair made the 'truly heartbroken' decision last month to resign as patrons from the charity — which supports Lesotho's vulnerable youth — following a string of allegations from former chairman Dr Sophie Chandauka. The Zimbabwean-born lawyer accused the estranged royal of staging a 'cover-up' of an investigation into wrongdoing at Sentebale and sending an 'unpleasant' message for failing to defend Meghan in public. Harry last visited Lesotho in southern Africa in October 2024 — his first in six years. Harry's a loved figure, but his loss of interest has totally killed the spirit of the Sentebale Chief Khoabane Theko He had previously visited more frequently, making four trips between 2010 and 2015. Chief Khoabane Theko, who claims to be Prince Seeiso's brother, said he was 'perturbed' when Harry and Meghan failed to visit Lesotho when on holiday in Africa. Arguing the Duke could have visited Lesotho 'more often', he told The Telegraph: 'When (Sentebale) was launched, I remember his words quite vividly, because he was very strong in saying 'my mother, this place, her passion about Africa' and all that.' The chief, who was unaware Harry had visited Lesotho twice since his marriage seven years ago, added: 'He's a loved figure because of his openness, but his loss of interest has totally killed the spirit of the Sentebale's survival.' Harry has accused Dr Chandauka of telling 'blatant lies' after the Charity Commision launched an investigation into 'concerns' about how Sentebale has been run. Since the resignations, Dr Chandauka has called the Sussexes' brand 'toxic' and accused Harry of 'harassment and bullying at scale' – a claim he fervently denied. In a statement, Harry said he believes the truth about their deepening rift will be 'unveiled'. He said: 'What has transpired over the last week has been heartbreaking to witness, especially when such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal. 'No one suffers more than the beneficiaries of Sentebale itself.'
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prince Harry's Sentebale 'Problem' Allegedly 'Started With Meghan' As Duchess 'Never Liked' The Charity Chair
Tensions between Meghan Markle and Dr. Sophie Chandauka reportedly contributed to Prince Harry's abrupt resignation from Sentebale. At a charity polo event, the Duchess of Sussex allegedly snubbed Dr. Chandauka, sparking controversy at the time. The Sentebale chair has since spoken on the moment, claiming that Prince Harry asked her to defend Meghan Markle against the backlash and she refused. Meghan and Dr. Chandauka's alleged strained relationship reportedly played a significant role in Harry's sudden resignation from the organization he helped launch. According to sources close to the situation, 'The problem, though, started with Meghan,' as she 'doesn't like Sophie.' Speaking with the Daily Mail, an insider revealed that things began to unravel following an awkward encounter at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge held in Florida in April 2024. The source claimed Meghan had told organizers she wouldn't attend, only to later arrive at the event with close friend Serena Williams. Dr. Chandauka had reportedly hoped to introduce Meghan to key attendees and donors, but Meghan was allegedly uninterested in engaging. 'She [Dr. Chandauka] wanted to take her around, to introduce her to other people, but Meghan didn't want to mingle or engage with those supporting the event,' the insider said. They added: 'She went off to the tent. Sophie found it rude. Staff working that day were asked to get champagne for Meghan, they were scrambling around — Sentebale and Archewell staff were both having to do that. Sentebale were not happy about this at all.' There was also an uncomfortable exchange between Meghan and Dr. Chandauka during the charity polo event in Florida that didn't go unnoticed. Footage from the event shows Meghan repeatedly encouraging Dr. Chandauka to stand beside her for a group photo rather than next to Harry. 'You want to come over here?' Meghan is heard saying, signaling the Zimbabwean-born finance expert to move. Dr. Chandauka then ducks under the trophy to switch places, prompting Meghan to comment with a brief, 'Lovely.' During a chat with Sky News' Trevor Phillips, Dr. Chandauka noted that the unplanned appearance created coordination issues. "We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time [Meghan was coming], but we didn't," she explained. "And so the choreography went badly on stage because we had too many people on stage." The interaction between Dr. Chandauka and Meghan quickly gained traction online, fueling media speculation. In response to the attention, Harry allegedly requested that Dr. Chandauka release a statement publicly supporting Meghan, which she declined. "Not because I didn't care about the Duchess," Dr. Chandauka explained. "But because I knew what would happen if I did so, number one. And number two, because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes." A source recently shared with the Daily Telegraph that Harry was not pleased with the chairwoman's refusal to defend Meghan. This allegedly prompted the Duke to chastise her in a personal message that was said to have an "unpleasant" tone and "imperious" language, which left the charity chair "upset." Last month, Harry stepped down from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to honor the legacies of their late mothers. The pair released a joint statement addressing their resignation, calling it a 'devastating' but necessary decision. They cited ongoing tensions between Dr. Chandauka and the board of trustees as the reason for their departure. 'What's transpired is unthinkable,' they said. 'We are in shock that we have to do this.' Harry and Seeiso continued: 'With heavy hearts, we have resigned for our roles as patrons of the organization until further notice, in support of and in solidarity with the board of trustees. It is devastating that the relationship between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair.' Despite stepping away from formal roles, Harry, 40, and Seeiso, 58, emphasized their lasting connection to the organization. 'We may no longer be patrons, we will always be its founders, and we will never forget what this charity is capable of achieving when it is in the right care.' However, Dr. Chandauka attributed the resignations of Harry and the charity's board of trustees to what she describes as 'misogynoir' and systemic misconduct within the organization. In an interview with The London Times, Chandauka pushed back against the public narrative surrounding the departures, calling it misleading and rooted in prejudice. 'Beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir and the cover-up that ensued,' she said. She went on to suggest that, for Harry, Prince Seeiso, and certain trustees, Sentebale may have been a 'vanity project.' However, she claimed that for her, it has always been about upholding the charity's mission and serving the youth.
Los Angeles Times
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Crikey! Zookeeper Robert Irwin strips down to his crocodile-hunters in new underwear ads
Robert Irwin is giving fans a peek at what's usually unseen territory: The 21-year-old zookeeper is posing half-clad for an Australian underwear company that's launching its line in the United States. The conservationist, Aussie TV personality and son of the late 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin flashes some serious muscle in the new Bonds ads, which include him posing with a snake, a spider and a lizard. In a few photos, he's even wearing shirts. It's a new look for the usually khakis-clad Robert, who hadn't even turned 3 when his dad died in 2006. In a freak accident, Steve Irwin died after being pierced through the heart by a usually chill stingray while filming an underwater documentary in a lagoon off the Great Barrier Reef. Robert Irwin told People that he didn't hesitate when he was asked to be the face — and the abs — of Bonds clothing. He would be 'representing Australia,' he said. 'I'm at this point in my life where I'm trying to do as many different and random exciting things, and if it's something that makes me a little bit nervous, that I've never done before and it's a bit of an adrenaline rush? That's what I want to be doing.' He said he was very comfortable working with the critters during the photo shoot but noted, 'Getting your gear off is way scarier than wrangling a croc!' Among his other pursuits, Irwin is currently hosting the Australian incarnation of 'I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!' along with Aussie comic Julia Morris, who has been that show's co-host since 2015. Irwin said that before the underwear shoot he got 'a lot of great tips' about working out from family members including his mother and his brother-in-law, Chandler Powell, a former pro wakeboarder from Florida who married sister Bindi in March 2020. Mom Terri Irwin was helpful because, he said, she 'actually did bodybuilding! She had more biceps then than I'll ever have!' Tkay Maidza, the Zimbabwean-born Aussie rapper known for the singles 'Electric Feel' and '24K' and the album 'Sweet Justice,' is modeling the female portion of the Bonds line — with her top half covered, mind you.
