MELINDA Nyakurwa, "Mai Jordina" the TikToker has anchored her social media content creation on simplicity to entertain thousands.
The 27-year-old TikToker has defied the odds with her comedy videos shot using a mobile phone with an ordinary picture quality.
Nyakurwa, who is also a member of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, does most of her TikTok videos in a rural setting. She told NewsDay Life & Style that she is proud of her rural background.
"I am one person who cannot pretend, if I present myself as someone I am not, I will strain myself in the process," she said.
Social media has opened various opportunities for the TikToker.
"I am seeing some doors opening, businesspeople are approaching me for adverts and others for events to be an emcee. I am also advertising for make-up artists promoting their work online," she said.
"Social media has also given me the opportunity to interact with people I grew up watching on television and listening to on radio. I am also being recognised by big names."
Nyakurwa said her breakthrough came after a video she created in 2021 of a fake phone call to her mother-in-law who had asked her to come and help with farming in the rural areas.
Speaking disrespectfully in response to her fictitious mother-in-law she said: "...ndini gejo here (am I a plough), ndini mudhumeni? (am I an agronomist), fertiliser hamuna? (don't you have fertiliser),” and that is how she gained followers on TikTok.
The name "Mai Jordina" came from her fans.
"It happened that I did a skit talking to an imaginary husband, BaJordina, so from then on, boom, I became Mai Jordina." she said.
Nyakurwa does not view fellow content creators including Madam Boss, Nigel Tha Slick Pastor among others as competitors, but rather as sources of inspiration saying they are different people running a different race with the same goal.
She, however, expressed concern over toxic comments and cyber bullying content creators are exposed to on social media.
"Some comments hurt, but I find a way through it and move on," she said.