AFTER
Biggest Loser ProfileMpho is exotic, dramatic and intelligent. Not merely because she trained in Havana as a medical doctor, but also because she has oodles of personality.
It has a life of its own and splashes like a fountain all over the place, with her big eyes, provocative and flirtatious.
Nevertheless, behind her gorgeous black skin, she hides a poor self-esteem, brought on by being overweight. She often feels tired; some of her friends subtly discriminate against her and her son innocently make comments about her weight.
“Sometimes I can’t even look into the mirror,” she says. “It has been 10 months now. It was since the birth of my daughter that I removed all mirrors in my bedroom.
“My weight, however, has always been a major issue, since my birth (or that is how it feels), my childhood, into my adulthood.
“Every day I face this demon. Not having nice clothes to fit in is the hardest part. I would so much like to look sexier for my husband. I am uncomfortable in a room full of strangers, because I am always thinking that they are judging me”, she says.
“Beautiful, well-dressed and confident women intimidate me. I tend to run away from such circumstances. Either I sit, do not move around, or I disappear. In my dreams I am athletic,” she says.
“I’m even prepared to go to jail to lose weight.” On the subject of being in jail, if she had to choose her last meal ever, what would that be?
“Mmmm… it would have to be grilled chicken, rice and sumptuous tomato gravy (oddly, she hates raw tomatoes), mashed potatoes, an Italian green salad on the side, a glass of ice-cold sweet wine and Malva pudding with thick custard to round it off.”
One of the wackiest diets she has ever been on was when she had her jaw wired and drank only liquids for six weeks. “I had to, because I was going around and eating everybody’s left-overs. It was scary.”
She lives in Mafikeng in the North West Province. At work, Mpho is admired for her skills with anaesthesia.
Moreover, if she had to be voted off? “It will be very hard. I will listen to reasons and learn from them. In fact, every second on the show will be a learning experience.”