Flava Queens is a South African, advertiser-funded cooking competition in which contestants compete in episodic challenges which are based on traditional meals with a gourmet twist.
Each week six contestants must prepare a traditional meal with a gourmet twist while on location at a new community-based location. Eliminations take place each week until the final "Queen" is named the "Flava Queen" on the final episode, winning R100,000.
Flava Queens is hosted by celebrity chef and TV personality Lentswe Bhengu, alongside resident judge Dorah Sitole.
Born and bred in KwaZulu-Natal, Chef Bhengu is a graduate of The Culinary Academy in the Cape Winelands and has worked in various restaurants, including Savoy Cabbage, The Roundhouse Restaurant and Saucisse Deli.
Former True Love magazine food editor Dorah Sitole hails from Soweto. She has cooked, styled and written her way into the hearts of food lovers everywhere. Dorah is also a published author, with her book From Cape to Cairo, which later became Cooking from Cape to Cairo.
Flava Queens is produced by Rapid Blue. The series director is Valentino Mathibela and the series producer is Sam dos Santos. The executive producer for e.tv is Katleho Khabele.
The Queens
Boitumelo Olifant
This Alexandra born and bred 40-year-old queen is a creative cook. She learned to cook by watching other people at funerals, feasts, stokvels, and restaurants. So great is her love for cooking, that she left her job at a bank and invested in her dream.
She is the prime cook in her household. Tumi is a mother, aunt, sister and promises to bring her A-game to the show.
Louisa Mpela
Hailing from the Eastern Cape, Louisa is a mother of five who taught herself to cook from magazine recipes, while she worked as a cook for a chain store. Like many, she decided to come to Johannesburg to pursue her dreams of opening her own business.
Despite having the odds stacked against her, she operates a burgeoning food business from her caravan in downtown Johannesburg. She says her secret to good food is being consistent with flavour in every dish she makes.
Paulina Koloti
"The best ingredient to put in your food is love," says Paulina, who hails from Botshabelo. This 40-year-old single mother is a go-getter who has a passion for preparing food for other people. She cooks from the heart and her customers and family love the food she makes.
A kasi girl through and through, Paulina is a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen.
Prudence Mosito
Prudence is 41 and lives in Midrand. Being raised by a chef, Prudence had to ensure she served only the best food, as she was always judged on his culinary skills. Her late brother left her with a skill that has now become her passion.
She says today she cooks well and presents her colourful food in a unique way every time. Her favourite saying is: "We eat with our eyes first".
Lebo Mangcwatywa
When her late mother was confined to hospital, someone had to make food for the family. Lebo had to learn to cook at an early age, under unfavourable conditions.
Today, this businesswoman, mother and wife uses her cooking skills to not only feed her family, but to keep her business going. Her biggest dream is to operate a self-owned restaurant serving African Cuisine.
Sophia Ledimo
Experience is the best teacher. Sophia is 58 and lives in Sharpeville. Her passion for food has seen her make a name for herself in her hometown. She makes a living by selling food from her house. She has no set menu - she makes food from the heart and customers show their appreciation by streaming back.
Sophia is a mother of two and a grandmother of two. Her love for cooking was instilled by her mother. To this day, Sophia still makes food just the way her mother used to.
Winner
Lebo Mangcwatywa