In the premiere episode of M-Net’s new reality dating series, The Bachelor SA, South Africa’s first Bachelor, Lee Thompson, met 24 beautiful, diverse and accomplished women, who each tried to make a good first impression on their potential future husband.

Below are the 24 ladies who vied for Lee’s heart:

America | 25 | Attorney | Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal

With a name like America, this soft-hearted small-town girl has what it takes to dazzle the world. She describes herself as an old soul and her favourite pastimes are reading, journaling and spending quality time with her furry friends. The biggest challenge she has had to overcome is reconstructive jaw surgery. Her dad is her best friend and most loyal supporter, and any man who comes into her life must realise he will have to live up to the example he set.

Annalene | 29 | Accountant | Johannesburg

Pint-sized, gorgeous Annalene is an easy-going intellectual with an adventurous side. Her hobbies are fishing, playing golf and cooking. She makes a great impression wherever she goes, and the corporate world is no exception: she was promoted to Junior Accountant before she had completed her degree. She believes in the power of energies – especially the electricity between two people on the same frequency. Her date should shower her with flowers, she says, and we all know how much Lee loves a red rose! She adds that a man scores instant points with the right cologne.

Chantelle | 25 | Chemical Engineer | Pretoria

Originally from Middelburg, now residing in Pretoria, Chantelle is an ambitious engineer who dispels gender stereotypes in her profession. Her mission is to be the best version of herself, by continuously learning and upskilling. Chantelle spends her free time in unusual ways: crafting her own gin or sewing dresses. That’s when she’s not training for triathlons. The man of her dreams can’t be a couch potato and needs to have a strong personality and clear vision and drive. Lee ticks the boxes.

Chanieel | 28 | Model | Sandton

Drop-dead gorgeous, long-legged model Chanieel might come across as being a little reserved, but first impressions can be misleading. In reality, she is a warm-hearted, caring people person who goes by the nickname Nili to those in her inner circle. She grew up in Hartenbos and Mossel Bay, after which ventured to George to start her own business. You wouldn’t guess it, but this classic blonde beauty loves Nutella and desserts and her favourite pick-up line is “What’s cooking, good looking?”

Daneal | 26 | Marketing and Digital specialist | Johannesburg

Meet The Bachelor SA’s free-spirited bad-ass millennial with a big heart. She has a sexy walk, piercing green eyes and tattoos that tell stories. Rihanna would be her “spirit animal”, and if you ask her to choose a superhero, Wonder Woman gets the nod. An avid football supporter, she was over the moon when she visited Liverpool, where she got to visit Anfield stadium. Spirited conversations between her and rugby fanatic Lee might be an excellent way to get the ball rolling!

Edith | 26 | Lawyer | Johannesburg

Dynamic, vivacious, witty and ambitious lawyer Edith considers herself to be the full package, as she believes men want more than a pretty face. While she admits that she is in essence a home body who enjoys her private space, she still loves a little adventure and making the world a better place. When she received her first pay cheque, she spent it on a car for her role model, her mom. Her dream is to one day be a judge. In the meantime, she’s come to a verdict on the attributes she expects from her dream man: he has to be compassionate and genuine.

Gina | 31 | Make-up artist | Johannesburg

Down-to-earth, sweet and gentle Gina works behind the scenes to make women look beautiful. As make-up artist, she draws inspiration and personal strength from all the different women she meets every day, but she prefers working with brides as it allows her to be part of their most important day. Yes, Gina is a hopeless romantic! She admits to having an incredibly corny sense of humour, which makes her absolutely adorable.

Jacqueline | 29 | Teacher | Johannesburg

Spicy, short, fiery and hot Jax is proudly loud and Portuguese with fun, laughter, joy and good food like her mom’s chicken ranking high on her “most important things in life” list. She is also extremely passionate about little kids and she hopes to find a love like that of her parents, who have been married for 32 years. Her most exhilarating, terrifying and rewarding experience to date was starting her own luxury leather embossing company.

Jenna | 29 | Online Fitness coach | Cape Town

With more than 180 000 followers on Facebook, Jenna is a sweet gym buddy who uses her online fitness business to support and uplift women. She is highly competitive and holds countless bikini competition titles but prefers not to measure success by her achievements but rather by who she is as a person. Old-fashioned romance makes her eyes twinkle, so her ideal date always needs to open her door for her.

Jozaan |27 | Attorney | Pretoria

Jozaan is an adventurous, independent and fun-loving soul with a high-powered job and a wicked sense of humour. She is ready to settle down and start a family. After all, as she admits with a smile, she has been a bridesmaid six times! This daddy’s girl’s idea of a perfect day includes socialising with her many friends and loving family. All she needs now is to invite them all to a Big Day – her Big Day with her Mr. Right!

Kelly-Tiegan | 23 | Entrepreneur | Johannesburg

The youngest of the bevy of beauties vying for Bachelor Lee’s Heart is energetic, sophisticated entrepreneur Kelly Tiegen, who is used to flying high. She has travelled to 26 countries. Kelly, who is obsessed with fitness and weightlifting, also has a creative side. She enjoys painting, design and creative concepts. She wants her man to treat her like a princess. It will also count in his favour if he asks her what she would like for starters, mains and dessert… ‘cause yes, she’s an absolute foodie.

Kerry | 30 | Sales Rep | Johannesburg

Wild, fun-loving Kerry confesses that she doesn’t like being told what to do and can be stubborn, but she is also extremely sensitive, generous and caring. Having had abusive relationships in the past, she is extremely passionate about empowering women and sharing her story to inspire others. If she could be any fictional character, she would be Sleeping Beauty because she loves her sleep and her pyjamas. Her ultimate date is a romantic dinner in the bush.

Kim | 28 | Marketing Agency Owner | Cape Town

Mythology, energies, spirituality and all things esoteric bring poetry to new-age hippie fairy Kim’s life. She waits for no one to create her own dreams and fulfil her passions and desires. Reading, meditating and listening to people for their pearls of wisdom, brings her great joy. Kim is an outdoor lover, she enjoys kite surfing, water skiing and all things involving the element of water – one of her main reasons to call Cape Town home. Bachelor Lee shares her love of the outdoors, but is a life together written in their stars?

Lucy | 31 | Sales Executive | Johannesburg

A lover of life, love and people, Lucy believes that every second counts. Making new friends and creating new memories come easy to her. After hours, you’ll find her working out in her gym or practicing jiu jitsu. She has a big heart and big dreams, coupled with a quirky spirit of adventure. A good sense of humour makes a guy instantly attractive.

Mbali | 26 | Social media influencer | Pretoria

It’s all about the glitz and glam – and the perfect Instagram pic – for ambitious businesswoman Mbali. If she could be anyone for a day it would be Kris Kardashian. Mbali is known for choosing her accessories well. She never leaves home without her iPad, wig and make-up kit! Her idea of romance includes the stars and candlelight, and her perfect man should not only be tall, lean and vulnerable, good teeth is a must! This makes a lot of sense – with Mbali at his side, there will be a big smile on his face!

Michelle D | 33 | Online boutique owner | Pretoria

Not only does she have a big smile and infectious laugh, Michelle D is a driven businesswoman who knows exactly what she wants out of life. Besides creating successful businesses, such as her current online boutique, her dreams for the future include a guy at her side who will be a fantastic father and her best friend – someone with whom she can share the simple, truly important things in life.

Michelle R | 29 | Consumer marketing specialist | Durban

Pretty and poised, Michelle R is the epitome of grace and elegance. Oozing confidence, class and sophistication, this successful and dynamic game-changer in the workplace has competed in beauty pageants from a young age and even played a role in a local Hindi movie. Her hobbies include horse riding, cooking and reading, and her ideal man is a gentleman with family-oriented values.

Milisha | 33 | Financial Operations Specialist | Johannesburg

Smart, career-driven Milisha is a go-getter who knows what she wants out of life. She enjoys spreading her wings – even if it’s all the way across the Atlantic, to the US, where she lived for six years. But there is a tranquil side to her that emerges when there’s beauty, harmony and peace in her life. She has been vegan for almost a year and can bowl you over with a mean vegan pasta. When she’s not sorting out tricky insurance matters at work, you will find her training in the gym or meditating. Her first love is her dog, Zeus. Lucky for her, Bachelor Lee is also crazy about dogs!

Natasha | 31 | Scientist | Cape Town

She is definitely not your average girl next door. Quirky, super-smart nerdy Natasha has four degrees behind her name and her idea of a relaxed date would be binge-watching Star Wars or Rocky marathon, with popcorn and Chuckles. This neuroscientist by profession is currently doing research on cancer diagnostics and is not afraid to be her authentic self – whether it’s geeky or being creative. Her hobbies include playing piano, singing and painting.

Nontombi | 28 | Quantity Surveyor | Johannesburg

This die-hard Beyoncé fan says she is single and ready to mingle! Nontombi is a bubbly quantity surveyor whose biggest asset is that she’s not easily thrown or brought down by disappointments. She likes laughing at herself and wants to become a fountain of growth and love. Her dates have to be smart and funny, but being chivalrous, tall, confident and rich won’t hurt. Lee, are you listening?

Sandy | 31 | Personal Trainer | Johannesburg

Sandy is a happy-go-lucky small-town girl and morning person with a structured routine, which she believes is the secret to success. For her, one can shape one’s own destiny simply by making the right daily choices. Sandy is passionate about health, fitness and wholesome nutrition, and enjoys making gluten-free and sugar-free treats. One of her dreams is to compile a plant-based recipe book.

Shelly | 26 | Johannesburg

Bold, charismatic and adventurous Shelly was bitten by the travel bug at a young age on a flight to New York. She recently returned from a three-year stint in the US, where she was an au pair and studied business administration in Chicago. Hence the slight twang when she speaks. Shelly believes in love at first sight, but whoever wants to woo her, needs to respect her African roots and traditions, like paying lobola.

Taryn | 29 | Proposal Writer | Johannesburg

Cheeky and petite, Taryn is always the life of the party. Or rather, for her, life is a party. She’s that enviable easy-going and carefree girl that everyone gets along with. She is super proud to come from a solid family foundation. She hopes if she ever gets stranded on a desert island, her mom and two sisters will be her companions! For her, Clarens in the Eastern Free State is the most romantic place in the country, with the perfect weather for cuddling.

Thenjiwe | 24 | Sports Coach | Johannesburg

Fondly known as Thenji (most people cannot pronounce her full name), this bundle of energy is definitely not your average girly-girl. Case in point: she enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and paintball and, despite her fear of heights, she once went zip lining in Germany. Thenji describes herself as bottle of champagne, bubbly and slightly sweet. She played netball provincially and is now channelling her joie de vivre into teaching children how to dance and play sports.

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It’s all over the M-Net channels, and petals are falling much more noticeably, introducing that Channel 101 will be bringing viewers the local version of the immensely successful international reality dating show franchise, The Bachelor.  M-Net also revealed that local heartthrob, former Sharks rugby player, international model and business owner, Lee Thompson, would be the lucky man vying for the hearts of 24 beautiful and accomplished South African ladies from different backgrounds.

The secret about the host is also out, and some may say he is more attractive than the Bachelor himself. Popular presenter Jason Greer will be at Lee’s side as the host of the very first season of The Bachelor South Africa, when the show kicks off on a romantic note on Valentine’s Day in 2019. Well-respected in the industry, Jason has presented a number of successful shows, including M-Net’s award-winning All Access and the popular game show Spellbound. Jason is also the narrator on M-Net’s wedding show, The Wedding Bashers.

Jason says to have been selected as the host for the local version of the most successful internationally recognised reality dating show is an incredible honour, adding that he is excited for the show and looks forward to sharing this journey with the rest of South Africa.

During his role as host on The Bachelor SA, Jason will be facilitating the iconic rose ceremonies where he will arrive at the most crucial moments of the elimination ceremonies. In addition to his hosting duties, Jason will also serve as the mentor figure to Lee throughout his Bachelor journey.

M-Net explained that Jason is an industry professional and his warmth, kindness, charisma, and sincerity will stand him in good stead as the host. He is also a mature family man and perfect wingman for SA’s The Bachelor.

Jason Greer has been involved in the South African entertainment industry for over 15 years, having started as a master of ceremonies. It was during his time in the television industry that he flourished and realised that he had a flair for hosting. He went on to host a number of hit locally produced shows that opened the door to his acting career. Jason’s presenting, acting and MC work is in high demand. He has also appeared in numerous TV commercials and corporate videos and is a voice-over artist across a variety of media.

The 24 ladies with a burning desire to find love on The Bachelor SA have yet to be announced.  The Bachelor SA will be screened on M-Net from Valentine’s Day, 14 February 2019.

Fans follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter @MNet / #TheBachelorSA and on the official M-Net Facebook page.

 The Bachelor SA is produced by Rapid Blue.

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Show off your superlative word skills by entering M-Net’s Spellbound!

ou can’t sing – not even in the shower. Your carefully planned delectable dishes end up being despicable disasters. You simply don’t have the stamina to survive on a deserted island. And your budding entrepreneurial skills won’t turn you into the next big business mogul. But, the day spelling talent was handed out, you were in front of the queue, just behind the Oxford dictionary. Finally, it’s your time to shine on M-Net!

This October, pioneering television network M-Net is celebrated 30 years of timeless magic. It was also the month during which M-Net’s premium channel, M-Net 101, toured the country to hold auditions for the next season of The Voice SA as well as the month thatthe channel introduced the highly entertaining new local reality show Shark Tank South Africa. But there’s more up the M-Net 101 sleeve: The channel is producing a brand-new, family-friendly game show called Spellbound, based on the concept of a spelling bee, and is looking for word whizzes who could become the country’s English spelling and grammar champions.

Spellbound will test contestants’ word skills in a fun and interactive way and will include super spellers from different age groups. There will be a round for primary school learners between the ages of 10 and 13, a round for high school learners between the ages of 14 and 18, and one for adults of all ages, as long as they’re over 18 and are South African citizens or permanent residents. The learners must currently be attending school in South Africa and must have the permission of their parents or legal guardians to take part in the show.

Apart from the exhilarating thrill that comes from knowing that you’re the country’s number one letter-master in your age group, winners – and their schools – will walk away with cash prizes.

“Spellbound is a wonderful local addition to our M-Net 101 schedule,” says Jan du Plessis, Director: M-Net Channels. “Spelling bees have become all the rage across the world and while the contestants will be giving it a go on television, the entire family at home can test their own skills and brush up on their grammar. It’s education wrapped in great fun.”

Two celebrities who M-Net audiences will fondly remember are back on the channel as the new hosts of Spellbound, M-Net’s latest game show format which is due to start on Sunday, 20 November at 17:00. Jason Greer and Vanessa Marawa are joining forces to challenge South African learners and adults alike to battle it out to see who is the greatest word whizz of them all.

Vanessa Marawa was the first winner of Survivor South Africa and after spearheading the reality show The Loot on M-Net’s youth channel GO, Jason became one of the presenters of the glitzy M-Net magazine show, All Access.

While Vanessa takes on the role of quiz master in Spellbound, firing the difficult questions in the contestants’ direction, Jason introduces the contestants, the games and ensures that the show runs smoothly.

It’s been exactly a decade since Vanessa Marawa survived the harsh conditions on a desolate island in Panama and she says that being a host on Spellbound is like coming home: “I can’t believe that it was a whole ten years ago since I was on M-Net, but how fitting for me to come full circle again in the year that the channel is turning 30,” Vanessa says. Jason, who has loads of experience under his belt as he’s enjoyed years of being a presenter, host, actor and MC in the entertainment industry, is equally delighted to join the M-Net family again. “Incidentally, Homebrew Films, the production company responsible for Spellbound, also produced All Access. So in a sense, I’m coming full circle too,” he says.

Spellbound will test contestants’ word skills in a fun and interactive way and will include super spellers from different age groups. There will be a round for primary school learners between the ages of 10 and 13, a round for high school learners between the ages of 14 and 18, and one for adults of all ages. Apart from the exhilarating thrill that comes from knowing that you’re the country’s number one letter-master in your age group, winners – and their schools – will walk away with some great prizes.

To find out more about this fun game show, visit www.mnet.tv/spellbound or follow the conversation about the show on @MNet’s Twitter account with the hashtag #MNetSpellbound. The series will also be available on DStv Catch Up and streamed live on DStv Now.

Spellbound is produced for M-Net by Homebrew Films and will be screened on M-Net 101 on Sundays at 17:00 from 20 November 2016.

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