Feisty Barbz heads home

Thirty-four-year-old South African model and events manager, Babalwa, also known as Black Barbie, says she is no airhead or gossip.

The Namibian chatted to the self-assured Barbz who managed to get a few barbs in about Prezzo and Goldie’s relationship, gossiping, and falling in love with Lady May. How does it feel to be out of the house and back in the real world?Oh my gosh, it seems you guys have been having a wonderful time while we were stuck in the house. I feel great! I’m happy to be out. Do you think you managed to break the Barbie mould some viewers put you in?I’ve never been known as a Barbie doll, rather the word Barbz is a shortened version of my name, Babalwa. I entered the house in order to recreate and expand my brand to the rest of Africa, especially since I’ve stopped modelling, which I only do on special request for good friends. I also entered for the prize money and so that my fans, both inside and outside of Africa get to see what I am really like. Have you achieved what you hoped you would on the show?Without a doubt, yes. I may not have won the money but I believe I have won the love, respect and appreciation of fans, friends and family. Some viewers saw you as a bit of a gossip or schemer. Is that the way you are in real life or was it all part of your strategy?I don’t know if those words describe my personality. I do know that it is a human trait. I am not a skinnerbek who uses information to hurt people, rather I listen and tell the next person what they need to know. It was simply me enlightening fellow housemates about what was said and what they needed to know. That is why it is sad now, to see how much gossip there was about me, but it never got to my ears. It hurt that no one told me because I would have told those I was close to. To me it was all information, either funny or important. Are you disappointed Goldie chose to replace Prezzo instead of you?No, I was am not disappointed that is why when she kneeled down I told her that she didn’t need to beg for forgiveness. It’s a game and she was in the position to save someone and she decided to save her boyfriend, which most women would do. I don’t blame her at all, in fact, I feel bad for her because she saved the wrong person, for the right reason. On that note, what do you think of Prezzo?My gosh! Every time I’m asked about him I try to find a word to express just how much I dislike him. He is not normal! What kind of a man has a wife and kid outside and comes into the house to find a wife there, all just to wash his clothes and cook for him. Then see another woman and chase after her. He is worse than a dog! I feel sad for Goldie. I never even divulged all the information I had about Prezzo to her. How he’d laugh at her and gossip about her with other housemates. Prezzo is an ass!How did you manage to hold your own when he verbally attacked you at the beginning of the game?I think it was a combination of good self-esteem and maturity. I never allow another person to take control of me. In fact, I hardly ever get mad at other people, no matter how hard they push me. I actually used the opportunity to push Prezzo to reveal more of what was inside of him. All the anger and hatred for me. He didn’t only attack me once, mind you. He would find a way to torment me almost on a daily basis. So, it’s safe to say you don’t want to see him winning the money?I will drink bleach if he wins, I won’t wait for Manetta! If he wins, I will know that Africa is sick. To vote for someone who is openly chauvinistic and abusive to women… It was just 24 hours before he went off Goldie after she saved him on Sunday!What’s next for you?I would like to make sure that a proposal I birthed last year, for a model search competition in southern Africa gets off the ground. I am searching for funding and sponsors for that, otherwise I will go back to my salon and event management company. Anything you’d like to say to your Namibian fans?Thank you so much for your support and love. It might have looked like I never liked Lady May but the truth is, she was such a closed-off character. It was only in the last week that I got to know her and she is a great person. It makes me sad to have left the game just as I was falling in love with her character. I think she is a good contender to win the prize money, along with the South African housemate.- You can watch BBA 24/7 on channels 197 and 198 (DStv).