What You See is What You Get

When I was in high school I thought Lebo Mashile was the best thing on TV, on stage, on radio, in books, in magazines, in my life. She could do no wrong. I never got tired of seeing or hearing her. I damn near threatened my friends with a Japan-klap if they didn’t agree that I look like her. This happened about 21 times a day – before first break.

Fast forward to a few years later. I’ve watched this lady a gazillion times, I’ve bought her book and her CD and feel like although I relate to her like we came from the same womb, I could never ever hope to write like her. So imagine the sweaty palms and hyperventilation I suffered when while doing a story for My First I was asked to give her a call.

Oh shit.

What if I opened my mouth and all she heard was htfsrhtnfotgjhgjfytfhvshjaugugugfgyfchljsoyyyst? Exactly. I was so scared that I would come across as a standard loser (wassup Bra Sauce) and I wouldn’t be able to get the article in the bag that I almost chickened out. Mr Editor was not having that. So I ring Lebo up and in my sweetest please-don’t-think-I’m-an-idiot voice I asked her the questions. She said she really couldn’t chat at that point but because the subject matter was so close to her heart could I please phone her in the evening?

Insert booby-prize music here.

I call her later and she gives me some great quotes – even throws in the word "shit." I’m in awe all over again. A few years later we’re both at a party and she’s looking for her crew and a glass of wine. I take advantage of the moment and reintroduce myself. She says how dope it was to be able to speak on a subject My First was putting a microscope on, telling me – I’m beyond starstuck for all five minutes of this chat – about how much she likes Zaki Ibrahim’s work and that perhaps people should start calling me Mr.

I smile.

Lebo is a cool ass chick. See? Who says I’m not easy to please? I bore you with all of this to tell you that there are very few people who are in the public eye that don’t disappoint once you meet them or talk to them. Lebo Mashile is one of them.
- The Ordinary Girl

That picture was jacked off her site lebomashile.com visit it sometime.