Divas ruling the Diaspora

Away from the local borders, Kenyan chicks are flying the flag higher, repping in flicks, music and fashion. STEVENS MUENDO unwraps the feline beauties conquering the showbiz scene abroad

Away in Los Angeles last week, Judy Karanja, a Dubai-based Kenyan model-cum-TV host, met the award-winning Longombas duo while on a special filming mission.

The beauty is behind a new magazine TV show, Judy TV Show, which is set for launch in Kenya soon.

The meeting with the Vuta Pumz singers was part of her tour, interviewing celebs abroad as well as ordinary Kenyans in the diaspora.

Her production is a hybrid of The Oprah Winfrey and Tyra Banks shows and is of the only kind in the region. The show has already attracted major attention from some international pay TV broadcasters.

After the successful shoot, Judy took her mission to Texas where she is currently working on a deal that will put Kenyan showbiz on the international map.

The actress who has featured in a number of films including a celebrity studded Los Angeles film, Chase — set to premiere in US in June — may be little known in the local scene but her fame across the boarders can no longer be overlooked.

Having hustled in Kenya in her youth, Judy left for the US in search of greener pastures where her TV dream was born. It was during her stay in Los Angeles when things stated falling in place.

"The Judy TV Show is an all-inclusive show tackling issues to do with fashion, music and generally the art industry as well as social issues encountered by Kenyans everywhere in their everyday life," the model told Pulse.

"The show is a platform to connect and inspire the youth through talent recognition. Some snippets of the soon to be launched show are already streaming on the show’s official website www.judytvshow.com." she added.

The rather social and ambitious star is just one of the many Kenyan girl models, actresses, musicians and filmmakers doing the country proud abroad in the land of milk and honey.

In fact, Kenyan artistes are now swimming against the current by pitching tent abroad where their careers are blossoming. At first, it was all about nurturing talent at home then leaving to look for green pastures. Even though that trend is on, there is a crop of celebrities who are beginning from top down.