By Stevens Muendo

After Rwandese beauty, Nina Bola, was shown the door last Saturday from Tusker Project Fame (TPF3), I can almost bet, Illuminata Rwelamira from Tanzania will be the next to take her flight home.

Nina could not save her skin after three weeks on probation. She follows Tanzania’s Kevin Stephen and Carol Uliwa who were the first to leave the academy. And being the sole Tanzania survivor in the regional reality TV show, Illuminata is back on probation for the fourth week

Illuminata Rwelamira

running. Her survival chances are getting slimmer by the week. Despite the sympathy she received from judges and fans after she fell on stage last Sunday, her performance remained wanting. If there is anything to save her, then that will be her killer looks which have so far flattered the viewers.

Among the five who are up for eviction, Karolyne Nabulime (Uganda) and Bernard Ng’ang’a (Kenya) and Christian may enjoy more votes from fans in their countries while the teachers might choose to save a more consistent Alpha. In that case Illuminata’s options to survive will be zero.

There are no clear favourites as yet. However Patricia Wangeci, Derbarl Clement and Karolyne — who is on probation for the first time — seem ready for the task going by their impressive performances. Patricia, the Kenyan girl, is slowly cutting an edge over other contestants. She is talented and experienced. She has wowed the fans and they have grown to love her. However, Derbarl remains strong and maybe saving the best for last.

The past five weeks have been boring and the show has failed to pick up. In my own opinion, the fact that the organisers retained Sheila Mwanyigha (host) and Ian Mbugua (judge) for the third year running, has watered down the show. I mean, everything they do and say is so predictable. I think East Africans are tired of seeing the same faces. Even Ian’s disses have ceased being funny. I mean for three years, doesn’t East Africa have anyone good enough to retire the two?

Worse still, there is Juliana, the songstress from Uganda whose judgment is wanting. Juliana sounds like the good girl who does not want to hurt the contestants with blatant truth. She is too soft.