A brand-new Betty
Kamogelo Molatlhoe zooms in on her role as the new Betty in season 2 of uBettina Wethu, where a lot has changed.
uBettina Wethu Season 2 Mon-Wed (from 15 August) SABC1 (*191) 19:30
After a successful first season in 2021, dramedy series uBettina Wethu, an adaptation of the popular international series Ugly Betty, is back for a second season. Last year we saw Farieda Metsileng play Betty and move from the rural Hammanskraal to Johannesburg to start a life working at the PR agency Nubia, with dreams of being in the fashion publishing business although her dress sense didn’t scream fashionista at all. This season there is literally a new Bettina who’s back to work her way up – even trying her hand at a makeover that stuns her family.
Kamogelo Molatlhoe is stepping up and filling the not-so-fancy-shoes as Bettina, and if she looks familiar, that’s because you last saw her as Keamogetswe on e.tv (*194) soapie Rhythm City.
“It feels amazing, I feel blessed, highly favoured and grateful because it came at the right time in my life,” says Kamogelo of her new role. “It solidified how far
I’ve come in my career to book a lead role because I had been doing a lot of supporting roles and working behind the scenes, but this confirmed that I am a performer and that I am good at what I do,” adds the actress.
In this season, Betty is promoted to account manager and with every climb in her professional career comes one in her personal life, like her sexy new look.
A WHOLE NEW ME
“She goes through a complete makeover and she’s not going to look like the Ugly Betty we all know,” Kamogelo says of her character ditching her colourful print two pieces with mismatched scarfs and glasses. “She becomes sexier and then she changes and mixes the sexy with the old Betty. Betty adds her own twist to the makeover that she initially did to impress a client, but it’s extreme.”
With the new look comes a new-butalmost-same Betty. She falls in love, loses her virginity and even gets a ring on that finger to keep our version consistent with the theme of an almost coming of age tale. “Yho Betty wajola!” the actress adds jokingly.
A LOVE TRIANGLE
Dingaan has also had a makeover. Zweli Dube has been replaced by Lunga Shabalala (Sims in soapie Legacy, see p36) – he promoted Bettina and since he didn’t get married as planned in the season 1 finale, Dingaan and Bettina’s chemistry is going to be like an electric undercurrent. There’s a problem though: Betty and Dingaan are going to be involved in a love triangle because she’s into his brother Duma (Hungani Ndlovu, Romeo in e.tv soapie Scandal!, see p27). “I don’t know how they fall in love with her but they do,” says Kamo. “Betty is human; she’s one of a kind, effortless and very entertaining. She is able to pull a crowd and you just can’t help but love her and want her to win. So that’s what they see in her.”
Betty’s aunt Mamgolo (Motshabi Tyelele, Mary in soapie Skeem Saam, p23) isn’t so happy about this love triangle, although it’s a relatable storyline for many South African women who find refuge in their “mamogolos”.
BETTY’S BLACK TAX
One of the best things about the story and what makes it different from the international version is how South African viewers are able to see themselves reflected in the characters. From Betty’s relationship with Mamgolo, to her being a young professional and still dealing with challenges like black tax.
“Betty is the type of person who is grounded in her choices, but her family has a huge influence on her,” explains Kamogelo. “As a country, our economy sucks and as young people we struggle with rent, buying groceries and having to help out at home. We see Betty battle financially as she tries to move out of home and move up in her career – while people try pull her down.”
Apart from new characters, vernac flavour, exciting love stories and lessons, viewers can expect quality content – and Kamogelo hopes she’ll be embraced as her character wiggles her way in everyone’s hearts. “I’m not going to compare myself to how anyone was, we’re all bringing a different kind of vibe. In the end, it’s about a beautiful tale reminding us that there is no deadline to life and all things happen as they should in our respective journeys.”