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| Vinolia back in the days |
From top television personality, to begging for food and train fare at a train station…how did this all come about? She rose to high and fell to low. 11 years after she left Jam Alley, she still has industry greats thinking she can rise again.
Vinolia Mashego started out as an actress on the famous local soapie, Generations. She was also a presenter on the SABC 1’s famous variety show, Jam Alley. She was famously known for her bubbly and fun personality. Now today she is known for being broke and being unruly. Last year June it was reported that the former TV presenter was renting a room and only had a mattress with one blanket and things took a turn for the worst. It was also reported that she was begging for food and train fare, and was on a train from Nelspruit to Johannesburg when she was caught without a valid ticket by security guards. The guards kindly helped her raise money for a valid ticket and while they were doing so, another by-stander offered to buy her coffee and something to eat and she kindly accepted it.
V-Mash, as she was affectionately known by her fans, is now a sad version of her former bubbly self. During her days when she was still living the high life, she stayed in the Pretoria Suburbs. She would take a flight from Johannesburg to Durban just to have a meal at one of the expensive restaurants/hotels. Before she started on Generations, she used to appear on local dramas on SABC 2. Her father (Collins Mashego), was also a presenter on SABC 1, he was known for the LAPOLOGA show in the early 1980’s.
She was fired from the popular television youth programme, Jam Alley for her “unruly” behaviour. Her departure sent shock waves through the industry and the departure was caused by her raunchy and wayward behaviour, which attracted bad publicity. V-Mash, who had a 14-month-old baby and was expecting another, was without an income since. With her reputation and controversial lifestyle, Jam Alley was her last public platform on television.
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| Down, out and broke!!! |
Among other things which brought about Mashego’s downfall was her arrest a few weeks before her dismissal from Jam Alley for walking around naked and cursing everyone in sight at a block of flats in Pretoria’s Sunnyside suburb. V-Mash also raised a storm at a beauty pageant in Durban when she flashed her silver panties at the audience.
This a lesson which we all should learn: today you may have all you want (the life, the money, the friends, etc.), but always keep in mind that it can end at any moment so you must be careful how you live your life and always plan for the future/have a plan B to fall back on in case things don’t go so well with plan A. In this case, V-Mash did not handle her money well and now she’s down in the dumpster, broke!
Now does this phoenix still have what it takes to rise from the ashes? Only time will tell…
it is sad that most south african celebs end up the sane way V mash did, I read an article saying that Mkgarimbe a south african kwaito artist is on the same board as V mash,he was also seen begging for food on the streets of Joburg and Musica is selling his CD's for R5 for two.this shows how much S.A. artist let fame take the best of them, or maybe its because they cannot handle their finances.
ReplyDeleteKea this is one of the sadest things and one thing that i have noticed is that people who made the industry what it is now were paid peanuts and some of them die without even affording to pay for a burial society.
ReplyDeletePeople should become icons instead of celebrities, there is a fine line between the two. I believe drugs also played a part in her life, since this is far most a shame.
ReplyDeleteShame man... The entertainment industry is something else hey. One moment you're in a fancy house, next thing you're on the streets trying to push. At least she didn't forget God through her struggle, because God will definitely not put you through something you can't handle.
ReplyDeleteThis is really a sad story but unfortunately not suprising. A lot of our artists which we look up to, end up in streets with nothing and no one. A lot of them let Fame and Fortune control their lives.
ReplyDeleteIndeed she had it all. That is the problem with our celebrities, when they have money they do not think of investing they just spend, which is why it is important for our entertainers to be taught business skills, this will help them in the long run
ReplyDeleteThis a truly sad, so what do you think can be done to help our celebrities not to end up like this.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of you. Most celebs like spending money like there's no tomorrow which is why they end up being broke. Like Lorraine said, business skills are essential for handling your money correctly to protect you in the future during stormy days.
ReplyDeleteIt was good while it lasted - Vmash has had her chance and God knows what she did with it! The entertainment industry can be fooling - one moment you're the hip and happening, everybody loves you. The next, someone new comes into the picture and you're history or should I say ancestor? Anyway, Vmash was good back then - but now? I think she should just look into opening a tuck shop to earn a living.
ReplyDeleteNic, V-Mash played with her money and did not put it to good use...that is why she is where she is today. Maybe the idea of a tuckshop is not such a bad one hey?
DeleteYoh Nic that is so mean of you.VMASH still has fans. She might be down and out financially, but not talentwise.Jam Alley should consider having her back on the show and see how the response will be. I know my mom would love that very much. BUT on a more serious note, our entertainers need to be taught the importance of business skills and how important it is to invest your money for the future to prevent stormy days such as these ones she is experiencing.
DeleteMpho, the reason she was kicked off Jam Alley was because of her rude and unruly behaviour. No production company would want her back.
DeleteIn life predictions work but sometimes do not come to pass. And Not everyone can handle Fame.It is clear that V-mash failed to plan for her future as she is now having new born babies to suffer after she was a star. It is obviuos that she was taking life as it came towards her not planning about what she may face tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you're saying. On top of being broke she's busy making babies... How is she planning to survive all this?
Deletethis is what we most ask ourself when celebrities go broke where is the money that they made. that means V-mash was not managed by anyone i mean she could'nt have had bad publicity managed by someone unless she really did not take the advice
ReplyDeleteShe might have had a manage but it was Vmash's responsibility to look after her self financially and plan for the futue because in this kind of industry, one can never be sure where and when will the next meal come from. Lets not blame the manager but rather think of how arrogant the entertainers get when they see the 7 zeros next to a 1 in their bank account. KINGDOM RISE AND FALL., so always expect the unexpected.
DeleteGrace, just because she went broke it doesn't mean she didn't have anyone managing her career. She did not take care of her money as well as she was supposed to. Instead, she went and spent it all carelessly and now she doesn't have anything to show for the successful career she had.
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ReplyDeleteYes, respect for your peers. She was offered help by other celebs (Somizi Mhlongo), but it is not clear whether she refused the help or what. And yes, we should stop looking down on others because we're famous and have money coz the next day it could be you who's broke and have no friends to turn to.
DeleteThis is very sad for some of us who were her fans. Its amazing how life can take you all the way to the top and then in a split second its throws you on the floor; she was a very remarkable woman who brought energy and life to the entertainment industry,it is sad that her career hit a rock bottom.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's quite sad.I mean she was the star of Jam Alley and she just fell out of blue and she has failed to get up ever since.
Deletenot being able to use our money will lead to this! she was taking flights to eat in expensive resturants now she is a begger.this shows that you can be somebody today and be nobody tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. She spent her money carelessly without a worry of her future and now she's pennyless!
DeleteI say when you in the entertainment industry you should not forget what you stand for. Vinolia was a wonder lady with lots of energy but she has lost it because fame got into her head, so never ever forget where you come from and most respect yourself.
ReplyDeleteShe let the fame take over her life and she has nothing to fall back on.
DeleteWell is said that is either you adapt of you perish, same with Vinolia she did not adapt and now she just vanished and i guess she's broke like hell right now. mmmh! in this industry is really hard.
ReplyDeleteTrue, she failed to adapt to the new emerging environment of entertainment and instead she fell behind.
Deletethis is a very sad story indeed, celebrities should learn to save their money and think of their future.
ReplyDeleteMany of them dont even think about saving, as soon as the money comes in then all they want to do is spend and spend some more!
DeleteWe all learn our lesssons, i am sure that she has also... everyone goes through rough patches and fall, it just depends on how we get up. she is a strong woman, she could have easily just "ended it all" but here she is "standing her ground". Go, V-mash, you are still my favourite girl...
ReplyDeleteV-mash you are the best ever....Please peak yourself up and come back to where you belong (on the TV)
ReplyDeleteMay the Lord help her and open news doors for her. May the Lord remember her good deeds, when she was helping others.
ReplyDeleteMOST OF CELEB R JUST SPENDING MONEY LYK NOBODY S BUSINESS,THEY DONT BUY HOUSES THEY JUST RENT DATS Y U WILL FIND DEM HOMELESS ONE DAY.THEY OWN NOTHING BUT ONLY 2DAY.
ReplyDeleteeverything its happening for a reason..
ReplyDeletethis is like the life of south african u cannot believe it that the mother of cheifs defender eric mathohoi is still living in a potential dengerous house wich could fall at any time.
ReplyDeleteStay off the drugs mmmmmmmkay
ReplyDeleteLet us not judge Vinolia cause we have not walked her path, let us not cast stones unless we are without mistakes, the comment about Vinolia getting pregnant when she is broke is insensitive, cause children are a gift from god, she did not ask to be pregnant. Let us come together and help, the woman has learnt her lesson and god has forgiven her why can't we? She need us the most right now, let us teach her love and manners and humanity.
ReplyDeleteWell said child of God, i respect u...We all hv baggages to carry & should not b judgemental of others.
DeleteThis is the worst write up I've ever read. It seems the author has a chip on his or her shoulder. The grammar is horrendous too. Vinolia made mistakes, nobody has the right to damn another person especially if you don't know them and their true story.
ReplyDeleteThis is the worst write up I've ever read. It seems the author has a chip on his or her shoulder. The grammar is horrendous too. Vinolia made mistakes, nobody has the right to damn another person especially if you don't know them and their true story.
ReplyDeletesouth Africa was rocking on sabc 1 jam ally lovely show,is got experience she can make his own show,please we miss u we love u,no matter what u are the star.elias
ReplyDeleteI personally feel for her ,such can happened to anybody , god bless
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