by Thinus Ferreira
A six-pack or big boobs? A very sexy, skimpy swimsuit photo? Knowledge of the capital of Finland? Here's exactly what you need - and need to be - to enter and complete the entry form for M-Net's Love Island South Africa reality show!
Only TVwithThinus that can give you the 19-point "cheat sheet" on what you require to make your application form truly pop and stand out and what you should do to do make your entry look stand-out sexy-tacular ... with just that bit of brain.
If only in real-life you had something like a pop-culture reality TV masterclass where you could ask the lecturer exactly what you need to not just enter M-Net's upcoming first season of Love Island SA, but to get an A+ in Entry form submission.
How can you make your Love Island SA entry look so good that yours instantly go into the "definitely maybe" pile? Well, TVwithThinus is here to help you with exactly that, with advice that you won't get anywhere else.
Before you touch that keyboard to enter, do exactly this to maximise your chance to become an islander in Love Island SA and the chance of living a life of fame, fortune and fun on TV:
1. Firstly, you have to enter online on the M-Net website - at a website containing the entry form that is actually quite difficult to find. Don't worry, some people are going to search and give up - so if you endure you're already someone who has shown a level of perseverance.
On the entry form you will have to "create" a profile" of yourself, answer some questions and then upload photos and videos, but don't do that just yet - first read through everything here to make your entry the best.
2. You must be between 18 and 30 - this will be a show with young, beautiful people not shy to bare their bodies.
3. You must be available between February and April 2021 during which the show will be filmed in Cape Town. That means exclusively available without any other commitments to live in a lux villa 24/7 without sneaking away - you can't leave to go flip burgers during night shift at McDonalds.
If you can't do the time don't waste the producers' dime.
4. You must be single - meaning not in a relationship with another person, and not in some secret relationship on the down-low that nobody knows about because the producers at Rapid Blue are going to do background checks and they will find out.
5. This is where all those years of TikToks and videos on the Gram are going to come in very handy. You need photos - Lots and lots of them, and video. While it can be any photos, you will need 2 specific photos, and while it can be any video, we will have a recommendation of what type of video.
Before you start your Love Island SA application get this ready first and have it ready to upload.
6. Do you need to be drop-dead beautiful? Nope, but it helps. Remember that television is a visual medium. It's about what people see.
You don't have to have model-good looks but if you're really serious about being on the show you can certainly enhance your looks, you can start exercising, pushing some weights or getting that haircut for the December holiday right now so you have it for your photos.
7. You will need a full, clear-face photo. In the TV and schmodeling biz we call this the "headshot". Make and take the effort to take as best, as clear, as well-lit a photo of your face. Don't wear hats or crazy hair, or cover your face or caked-on make-up. Let the producers see you, show them your face!
8. You will also need to submit and upload a full-body photo wearing swimwear. If you don't want to do this, obviously Love Island SA is not the show for you, love.
Posing in a Victorian-era cossie looking like you're wearing a shower curtain or draping yourself in miles of bubble wrap or stoep carpet defeats the purpose. The producers want to see your body, curves and muscles - so show them your body. Bring out the speedo, bikini or stylish one-piece but leave the mankini in the closet.
Also, it's obvious but it has to be stated - no nudes, please. Tasteful, yet sexy will do it.
9. You're also going to need a video to upload. While it can be any video, here's our tip: Make it as sexy a video without being R-rated. While you can talk, we suggest you say nothing - like a silent movie. Just pose, girl and make the producers want to pick up the phone to talk to you to get to know you better!
Again, no nudes, but you certainly will put yourself ahead of many entries doing your video in a swimsuit.
Guys ... go shirtless! Girl ... twirl! We suggest you film your very short video at a pool, or a beach or with banana leaves or a tropical, fantasy-type setting in the background. Make the video look, and envision yourself as living the Love Island SA life already.
10. Go through photos of yourself, or scour your own social media accounts like Instagram, Twitter and others and save a bunch of additional photos of yourself.
You need to be clearly visible. You need to look as beautiful as possible. You need to look as if you're having fun and having the time of your life. Vacation and carefree hanging-out photos with friends are perfect.
11. Very important here - start going through and delete all and any ugly things you've ever typed on social media that could come back and cause controversy for you or the show. It's a given but you don't want the media to dig up your nasty business while you're on the cusp of winning R500 000 as the winning couple.
12. Love Island SA is a bit more about bod than brain but you can't be a bread on legs - the show wants content and that needs to come from you and the other islanders - you will have to talk and compete and fight and maybe canoodle, and be able to swim and stir conversation. So you need to come across as a little bit smart as well.
The Love Island SA entry form will ask some questions, which, if you take a few minutes to ponder beforehand, you can fill in with better answers that will once again give you a competitive edge over other entries. Be thoughtful, be distinct, have a story, be truthful, and share and show some emotion in your words.
Now we're ready to get to the entry form.
13. You will have to "create" a profile by giving your personal details like your name and surname, where you live, if you have children, and your occupation.
You will now also have to upload that "making love to the camera" headshot of yours, as well as the full body photo wearing swimwear taken in your backyard but looking like you're been suncationing at Sun City.
14. The entry form will ask for even more pics you might want to share. Yes, upload some! Sharing on this application form is caring. You'll be asked to share your social media handles. Again, make sure you don't have ugly stuff and haven't posted nudes.
15. Now you're going to be asked about your hobbies. Trick question, angel! It's obvious that you don't list knitting or crochet. But you also don't want to list skydiving. So what do you want to list? Remember this is television as a reality game show, with human and social drama.
You want to show directly or indirectly that you (1) play well with others (2) are popular and therefore can influence people to like you and be on your "side (2) are competitive (3) like outdoor activities and are outdoorsey and (4) are communicative in group settings and can not just walk but also at the same time talk just like a Top Billing presenter.
So list hobbies that are not solitary endeavours - like you like to braai, or do beach clean-ups during Covid with you 250 closests friends. Don't list stamp collecting.
16. You will have to say how long you've been single. No trick question here - phew! - just be honest.
17. You'll have to say when and how long your last relationship was. Again, no biggie, or need to overthink.
18. You'll have to describe a defining life experience that has shaped you. Trick question! You have to choose something Positive, or something you can swing positive in your short description.
Again, this is TV and you'll have to stay for days if not weeks in a mansion with strange people and even with pretty people that starts to drag on you after a while.
The producers are looking for bubbly, life-affirming, self-starting, go-getter type people.
Talk about something that changed your life for the better, something that allowed you to succeed, or to achieve something bigger, or that positively impacted you.
Bonus points if it impacted people and the community around you positively as well, for instance, your dog died on the same day that your grandma passed away but it inspired you to open or go volunteer at a dog shelter where you've now helped many dogs since in grandma's honour.
19. Lastly, you have to say why would you be a good islander on Love Island SA. It's a tricky question again that I call the "Power Ranger" question.
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The question contains the word "you" but unlike Donald Trump and low EQ people, you have to show that getting a spot in Love Island SA is not just about More than just you, but that you have an Awareness that a show like Love Island SA is about more than you.
Again, it's about television and making good and compelling TV, and like the swimming pool that must stay blue, and the challenges that must be sexy and funny, you as an islander are but one part of a broader production.
Be funny, be irreverent and try and share some of your quirky personality traits but pivot it to include why it would be great for viewers to see.
Share in this answer what you think makes you unique and helpful to the overall group. Remember the Power Rangers? Red, yellow, blue and green all have their special power. What is your special power and how will it benefit everyone? Why must the producers simply put you in?
Mention accomplishments and unique attributes but also how it will be beneficial to the overall group and show.
For instance, "I'm the life of any party but if someone falls into the pool I'll always be there like Pamela in Baywatch because I'm actually a registered lifeguard and have not just saved people but once also some penguins with my friends during a terrible storm".
