Big Brother Africa:’I put up a good fight’

‘I FOUGHT, I survived! As the last woman standing I am proud to say I put up a good fight.’

So says newly engaged Namibian BBA housemate, Meryl Shikwambane, who exited BBA All Stars on Sunday.
Meryl, who was also the last housemate to enter The Barn, spoke to The Namibian by telephone from Johannesburg yesterday.
The second-time BBA contestant surprised many viewers and contestants, particularly the girls, by being the last woman to be evicted from the house.
She found herself at the centre of quite a few hectic encounters and heated arguments in the house but, never one to shy away from controversy, she always spoke her mind and stood her ground.
A new mum, Meryl never planned on falling in love in the house but as she is quick to say, this type of thing can’t be planned. Not only did she meet and fall in love with Tanzania’s happy-go-lucky Mwisho in the house, the pair also made history by becoming the first housemates in BBA history to get engaged in the house.
NATASHA UYS caught up with a very happy and excited Meryl yesterday.

How was the rest of your Sunday night, after the eviction show?
Oh gosh, I haven’t actually slept since Saturday night. I saw some old friends I hadn’t seen in a long time and also met some housemates from previous seasons of BBA. We’ve been having a lot of fun. You guys know I am a party animal! That is not going to change anytime soon.

How would you describe your second time around on Big Brother Africa?
Exciting. Challenging and fun. It was an amazing experience and I definitely don’t regret taking the opportunity to be on the show for a second time.

How did it feel to be the last lady standing?
I was so proud of myself! As much as I didn’t make it to the final, I made it 77 days. We came close and we are all very proud of ourselves. Being the last of the female housemates was a huge thing in my life, worth even more than the US$200 000! I fought, I survived. I was the last woman standing and I’m proud to say that I put up a good fight. I am no quitter and I’m proud to have made so many women like me proud.

Looking back at your entire BBA experience. Is there anything you regret?
No. Never. I live my whole life by never regretting. I believe if you did it, then you wanted to do it and whatever happened, happened. I never look back, I only look forward.

Did you have a strategy, going into the house for the second time?
Actually no. Since my first season I’ve just been myself. I don’t compromise myself for anything, that’s just the type of person I am. I won’t change or try to play a role. You can’t be one person in the house and one person outside. If people don’t like the real me, then – oh well.
I was not going to compromise who I am. That was Meryl you saw walking into the house, and Meryl you saw walking out.

Congratulations on your recent engagement! Tell us, what can we expect from you and Mwisho next?
I really never expected to fall in love but these kinds of things tend to just happen. Mwisho and I have not made any decisions yet. I will have to talk to him once he gets out of the house but I would love to have homes in both Tanzania and Namibia. A place where we can both get to know each other’s family. I can’t mention anything that involves us both until I have had a chance to talk to him but I think we’ll take things day by day. Watch this space!

How has falling in love and committing to Mwisho changed you as a person?
It’s changed me a lot. After breaking up with my child’s father shortly before her birth, I had decided to give up on relationships and just concentrate on being a mother. I had shut myself down and wouldn’t let anyone into my life but Mwisho broke through all of that. We connected in so many ways and he has opened me up to so many new things. New ways of thinking. The Lord has brought this to us and now it is up to us to make things work. I know we will.

How did you perceive the way Paloma reacted to you and Mwisho’s relationship, particularly your engagement?
It was something she chose to do. I really can’t judge her for the way she reacted. We all have our ups and downs and at least she said things to my face. Better the devil you know than the angel you see, I always say. I think Paloma is a great person and whatever was said or done, I don’t regret it at all. Life goes on.

You know Mwisho lives in the bush, right? How will a girl who’s kind of scared of chickens manage in the great outdoors?
Don’t even ask! I have no idea. We’ll just have to wait and see. As I said, ideally I would like for us to settle and have a base in both countries, so that we can travel up and down. One things for sure though, I won’t be milking any goats or cows and I certainly won’t be catching any eggs from chickens!

– Meryl and the rest of the evicted Barnmates will stay in Johannesburg until after the announcement of the winner on Sunday, October 17. So keep an eye on the press for details of where you can catch up with the bubbly Namibian housemate and her hunky fiance, once the two land on her home soil.
– Keep watching all the Big Brother action go down 24/7 on DStv Channel 198. Also catch the daily highlights shows on M-Net Africa, Channel 102 daily at 18h30.