With notable accolades behind his name, good looks and a charming personality to match, Maps Maponyane continues to win the hearts of not only South Africans, but of the world.
With his tall, slender frame and dashing good looks, Maps Maponyane was always going to be a model. Whatever he’s given to wear, he makes it look great. But it’s his own flair for fashion that has seen him scoop up a slew of sartorial awards that include the SA Style Awards’ Most Stylish Male Media Personality in 2013. That said, Maps isn’t just handsome: He’s talented too.
The ultimate overachiever, Maps is a television presenter, actor, designer, creative consultant, businessman and philanthropist. As far as his television career goes, he’s most recognised as one of the presenters of SABC lifestyle show Top Billing.
Known for his on-screen eloquence, you’d never guess that Maps was once a stuttering school boy. But he ‘loved talking’ and with his willingness to overcome his speech impediment, he moved past his struggle and propelled himself into his presenting career.
Mind the gap
After completing high school in Joburg in 2008, Maps took a gap year and auditioned for several television shows while working as a sales assistant in a clothing store. He’d soon land his first gig, presenting SuperSport’s schoolboy rugby show, Classic Clashes. It was during this time he approached the director of SA Fashion Week and asked if there was a way they could work together. This is how he came to work as her PA and was soon entrusted with the role of assistant director of the event.
Ultimately, Maps’ gap year was as busy as his life is now. His goals included being able to buy his first car, travel overseas and send himself to university and, before you could say ‘mission accomplished’, he’d enjoyed a five-week whirl through Europe and was driving himself to Wits to complete a BA degree in Media Studies.
Always on the go
Today Maps’ face beams from TV screens across the country and he’s a sought-after MC for events. He also recently created a splash on social media when he shared images of his Joburg home, which he renovated himself. The end result was so fabulous-looking, many of his followers suggested it feature on Top Billing, a delicious ‘full circle’ moment as one of Maps’ roles on the show is to walk viewers through the dream homes of others.
When he’s not in the public eye or pulling off killer home-related DIY, Maps also does a lot of charity work. In 2015, he partnered with a group of philanthropists to start the Bursary Network programme, an online platform that helps crowd-fund the tuition fees of deserving students. He’s also a volunteer at Ethembeni Children’s Home, and performs community and organisational work for Doctors Without Borders. Clearly Maps’ career is a road that’s made of gold, and the same can be said of his heart.
For more on Maps Maponyane, page through the March issue of Club.
