UKZN “Sassy Catwalk” Graduate Stars in TV Advert

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UKZN Honours graduate, Ms Chrysantha Alicia Palan, who shot to social media fame with her sassy graduation catwalk now features in an advert for one of the top banks in South Africa.

The flamboyant Palan is in the “Get the Start you Deserve” advert on all social media platforms and television. In the advert, Palan walks off the graduation stage after being capped by UKZN Chancellor, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, and straight into a new vehicle, financed by the bank.

‘After my video got over a million views online, I was getting calls and messages from different people who were very excited and wishing me well. I got an e-mail from an advertising agency and they told me they liked my charisma and they wanted to do this advert with me which is a finance campaign for new graduates. It sounded like a very good deal and I was in,’ said Palan.

She is currently an editorial intern at Independent Media where she ‘moonlighted’ as one of the Sunday Tribune newspaper’s fashion police at this year’s Vodacom Durban July.

Palan, who is currently doing her Master of Arts degree, said although her life had been a bit hectic this year, she had learned to take things step-by-step.

She plans to do her PhD in the future, adding, ‘I want to merge creativity with academia.’

Palan cannot wait for her next graduation and she hopes to serve as an inspiration. ‘Good things don’t just come on a silver platter. You have to work for them,’ she said.

The advert can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4r0r5vra9E

 Words: Nkululeko Mbatha

Photographs: Supplied