A 19-YEAR-OLD receptionist is the latest Zimbabwean to enter the British reality TV craze.
British-born Chenai Zinyuku, who lives with her Zimbabwean dad in Bradford and three half brothers, is in the ITV show – X Factor, a successor of Pop Idol.
It’s a welcome break from Makosi Musambasi’s disastrous appearance on Big Brother, a chapter many Zimbabweans would rather remains closed.
Described by media critics as a “cry machine” for her constant breakdowns, Chenai was rejected in the same competition last year and returned this year to massive praise from all three judges in her first audition.
X Factor judges Simon, Sharon and Louis all agreed she had improved from last year!
She credits her grandmother for urging her to reapply this year. She said: “My gran told me that she received messages from God telling me to enter the competition again as last year was not the end of my X Factor journey.”
Chenai has also entered many local contests, notably winning urban voice 2003 at Jongleurs.
Chenai loves her soul, funk and Motown artists, as that’s what she grew up with.
She reckons it’s very weird being recognised in the streets and says she’s sang into her hairbrush “numerous times and on numerous occasions!”
Pity, then that Chenai is not the bookies’ favourite. She is 69/1 to face eviction next Saturday having survived by a whisker last week.
A music critic observed: “Her experience at the weekend might kick her up the arse enough to get her act together a bit more next week.”
X FACTOR is broadcast on ITV every Saturday evening
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