Where did she come from? Brains, beauty and business savvy?! Known regionally as an actor, model and Miss Free State SA 2016, Mienke van Rooyen now lends her bubbly personality to the afternoon drive show.
They say ‘overnight success’ takes at least ten years, or this case about ten months...
Mienke joined the OFM activations team in 2018. Soon after, her crossings caught the ear of then General Manager, Nick Efstathiou, who encouraged her to pursue on-air presenting. Intense off-air training with regard to all things radio commenced alongside various dummy shows and snoop sessions.
By October, Mienke was deemed ready to become part of the afternoon drive team as a host and traffic presenter. Since then, she has been forced out of her comfort zone multiple times. Being the youngest presenter by far on air at OFM currently, meant that what most other presenters could learn at either community or campus radio stations, she had to get a grasp of very quickly. Which she evidently did, as she was awarded a Bright Star award by the South African Radio Awards in 2020.
Born in Bloemfontein on 27 March 1996, her love and passion for the entertainment and media industry was ignited at the young age of seven when she competed in her fist public speaking contest.
Then, at the age of 18, after her trip to a talent showcase in the USA and after declining a New York Film academy scholarship, she fell in love with South Africa’s talent and potential all over again.
During her four years at the University of the Free State, Mienke explored various avenues in order to secure a future in the entertainment industry. By winning various beauty pageant titles including Miss Free State and an international title, she founded her own beauty pageant, Mr and Ms Campus, aimed at enhancing student lives by tackling various social issues in our country.
Mienke believes radio holds the potential to fulfil the role of a best friend, an older sibling, a parent or even sometimes that enemy you just cannot seem to get rid of. This is all due to the value and trust listeners place on and in the station and the presenters’ opinions and general conversations.
What Mienke enjoys best about radio is the role it plays in the minds of listeners; constantly shifting, depending on their needs that have to be satisfied on a specific day.
Her favourite quote: “If you want to know where you are going to be five years from now, look at the people you surround yourself with today.”
Although one would not think it, Mienke enjoys alone time cuddled up with a book or watching series. Those that can keep quite, may join (sic)!
