Fezile Mkhize: from the doctor’s room to the world

Medical doctor, Mr World South Africa and first runner-up of Mr World 2019, Fezile Mkhize is a man of many talents. When he’s not in his scrubs, you can catch him serving heat on TV, runways and fashion spreads. Here, he lets us into his world of possibilities

We’re having a hard time deciding if it Was Fezile’s good looks, charm, voice or his personality that captured the attention of judges and viewers across the nation When he Won the sabc 3 presenter search

– a break that landed him the much-coveted presenting role on Top Billing. And by the looks of things, that was just the beginning of an exciting adventure in show business. As the reigning Mr World South Africa, and the first runner-up of Mr World 2019, the world is his oyster. ‘At the heart of all I do is an attempt to show the possibilities of your dreams,’ he says. Fez, who hails from South Coast’s Port Shepstone, and was raised by a single mother in a rural area called Bremer, credits his success to his humble beginnings. ‘All the things I’ve been able to do were just dreams growing up. So with all I do, I try to convey that a limitless possibility is the key ethos.’

GQ: What’s the common thread between your titles?

Fezile Mkhize: People. I have a great respect for the human condition in all its forms. Medicine allows me to help people when they aren’t at their best, when they’re vulnerable and need more empathy and kindness than they might at other times in their lives. There is a beauty in it and I never take for granted how privileged that makes me. With media and presenting, I get to cover the most fascinating individuals who are doing incredible things. I get to see the height of the human condition, the shining beacons that inspire others. Regardless of what hat I wear, that human element remains the same.

GQ: Last year, you did an ad campaign for Jet – topless. What was the feedback from moms?

FM: That was an incredible ad series to be a part of because of how it pushed the envelope. It got the conversation going around mothers, and what has been conventionally expected of them and how those perceptions are obsolete. It was well-received, with a lot of positive feedback from moms who felt they were being seen and engaged with in media. There were some lighthearted and entertaining comments, too.

GQ: You certainly don’t believe in limits. What informs your approach to life?

FM: I grew up in a small town, so I never imagined myself heading out to the big world. But that changed when I started reading epic fantasies like The Wheel of Time and The Lord

of the Rings, as they told tales about people with humble beginnings that went out into the world and became heroes who changed the world. That helped start the fire in me. Later in my life, my partner, who is also a medical doctor and yoga teacher, became an even bigger catalyst for my mindset. Watching her pivot through the many opportunities she’s had allowed me to see that there really should be no limit to what you want to do if you’re passionate about it. I give that same advice to every person I meet.

GQ: You were crowned Mr World South Africa 2019, and you represented SA in the Mr World pageant where you were the first runner-up. What role does male pageantry play in society, and do you think it’s given the same respect

and attention as female pageantry?

FM: I think pageantry has a very admirable cause at its core. It attempts to find exemplary individuals who have a light shone on their gifts and use them as a prism for that light to illuminate on issues and people that might not have had that exposure. On a global scale, it also allows for engagement from other countries to highlight how we have more similarities than differences. Historically, pageants have been centred on females, for several reasons, but there’s no reason a shift shouldn’t take place and have just as much attention to male pageantry as female, as it allows for more causes to have the limelight.

GQ: Some people audition for Mr World South Africa for years with no success. What did the audition process teach you about yourself and what motivated you to keep going? What’s your advice to those who are on the verge of giving up?

FM: I have learnt that I can adapt. Coming from such an academic setting and having studied all my life, it has been both surprising and refreshing to find out that there’s this other side of me that translates to people who I have never met. I’ve also found a love and appreciation for the arts and media spaces. My biggest motivation comes from my mother. She’s done such incredible things in her life with the limitations of her social-economic status. Whatever may bring me down or make me despondent pales compared to the trials she had to go through. To those who feel like they may give up, I say, ‘Why?’ Doing anything worthwhile requires you to get to those points. To become the person you dream of, you have to change. If you don’t, you’ll be who you

‘I have a great respect for the human condition in all its forms.

Medicine allows me to help people when they aren’t at their best, when they’re vulnerable and need more empathy and kindness than they might at other times in their lives’

currently are and that’s not the goal. Life keeps rolling on and so should you, so that you can continue to tell your story. Any good story needs friction; it needs adversity; it needs you to win by never stopping.

GQ: How has your life changed since venturing into TV?

FM: It’s become a lot busier. The biggest thing that has changed is probably my need to keep my schedule flexible. With all the teams I work with across my professions, there’s been a need to make sure everyone is communicating.

GQ: How do you choose the brands you align yourself with, and do you ever turn down opportunities?

FM: Being someone who is always ready to work and loves getting down to the grind I accepted a lot of opportunities that were thrown at me purely because I wanted to keep working. As time went on, I started to appreciate the importance of aligning with brands and people that have the same mindset and end goals as myself. Now, I’m more discerning with my choices. I usually choose who I will work with after having had a conversation with someone in that fold to see whether we connect on a more personal basis. I fight and try more when I have that connection because it feels like I’m backing friends rather than a business.

GQ: What are some of the challenges faced by new talent in the entertainment industry, and what’s your take on #Openuptheindustry?

FM: There are benefits to being new in any industry, as you come in with energy and a different perspective, but there’s the flip side to that were you aren’t as experienced or well-known. The latter is why there’s been movements such as #Openuptheindustry, because there’s a tendency to give work to those who have proven themselves proficient at it on previous occasions and thus have experience and are seen as a dependable venture – which makes perfect sense. However, with an industry such as entertainment, its lifeblood is creativity and new concepts – this can only come from a robust amount of talent. I can never hold it against an artist for getting booked for multiple jobs. It’s up to those who are the decision makers to increase the amount of new talent and to allow for an even more dynamic space.

GQ: Unemployment is a big problem in SA. What advice do you have for young people who may grow despondent because of the lack of opportunities?

FM: It’s incredibly difficult to say something to someone in that situation, as it’s hard for them to see the light at the end of that very dark tunnel. It’s important to remember that we live in an unconventional time and broadening your mind will allow you to take the skills you’ve gained and utilise them in very effective ways. Technology has opened up the world to all of us, and what you can do is only limited by your own creativity. Don’t wait for work or a job to come to you, go out and create it.