Former childhood star Salamina Mosese reflects on her journey

Child stars fascinate us, captivating audiences with their talent and charm. But as they grow older they face intense scrutiny, and pressure to maintain their fame. We revisit former child star Salamina Mosese who stole our hearts at a young age. We explore her rise to fame, the challenges she faced, and where she is now.

What inspired your parents to get you on TV?

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My mom noticed how me and my siblings loved playing out in the streets, especially over the weekends and school holidays. So she signed us up to a children’s agency in Midrand – she thought it would keep us busy and out of trouble to channel our energies into something positive. Soul Buddyz was my second audition, and I got the job. I was 14 or 15 years old at the time.

What’s your fondest memory of Craze?

I think it’s the lifelong friendships that I formed there – especially with Stephina Zwane, who’s my current business partner, and with Kethiwe Kunene. We met as teenagers and we are lucky to still have each other. We made a lot of memories, as kids’ TV presenters; and most of what I know about presenting today, I learnt on Craze.

How would you describe the landscape of the industry from then to now? And how have you overcome its struggles?

It’s one of the most insecure industries. It’s tough for on-screen creatives, and we face so much rejection – there’s a saying in the industry, ‘You’re only as good as your last job’. You could be working and secure for months, even years, and then be unemployed and unable to book a job for a long time; and the fame aspect makes it difficult to start from scratch and build from nothing. I struggled for a long time with imposter syndrome and low self-worth. I think I’m still a work in progress!

How was the transition from being in front of the camera to stepping behind it?

The transition happened gradually – over 24 years in the industry, I changed, and learnt more about myself. The things I wanted to achieve also changed. I always knew I wanted to eventually be on the other side of the camera. Even as a child, I had an interest in directing and writing, and as I worked more on sets, producing began to intrigue me as well.

Tell us about Disaster at Gogo’s Spaza. Why did you choose to write a children’s book?

It was only once I became a parent that I had a desire to write a children’s book. It’s about representation. I wanted to contribute to giving my daughter more characters who look like her, sound like her, and have similar interests to her; and that’s what inspired me to write Disaster at Gogo’s Spaza. I even named the main character, Tumi, after my daughter.

Salamina holding her book ‘Disaster at Gogo’s Spaza’, Image: Supplied

You experienced fame at an early age. What advice would you give parents who want to get their kids into the industry?

I would advise them to sign their child to a reputable agent, but to never compromise their child’s schooling for the sake of a job or the TV industry.