Sashi Naidoo is a South Africans actress, television presenter, model, MC, entrepreneur and fashion blogger. Shashi is best known for co-Hosting the E.TV magazine show 20 Something. During this time she also co-hosted the nationwide MTV VJ Searchr.
Early life
Naidoo was born and raised in Port Elizabeth, matriculating from Alexander Road High School in 1997. She moved to Johannesburg to study chiropractic medicine, which she completed in 2007 at the University of Johannesburg.
Career
She made her way into the public eye in 2004, when she played Linda McGinty, Ziggy's girlfriend - in the E.TV soapie Backstage. Soon after she had a brief role in the SABC1 soapie Generations. She also appeared in a minor role in the 2007 mini-series Society. She began co-presenting the youth magazine show EMS Volume 1 on SABC1 on 2 October 2007. Shashi completed a six-month stint on the MNET soapie Egoli in 2008, playing the role of Sureshni Patel. Shashi has partaken in a plethora of TV and Print commercials as a model and brand ambassador for: Sun International Woolworths, Coke Zero International, MTN, Nivea, Brutal Fruit, Jet, Edgars, Rama, Discovery, IEC SA, Samsung, Malaysian Airways, SA Tourism, Satisskin Body Wash, Skull Candy, DSTV India, Blow the Whistle Campaign, Dermalogica Skin Care, Jose Cuervo, SPAR Gsport Awards Ambassador and many more. In 2008, Shashi was featured in the FHM calendar 2008, voted number 14 in FHM's 100 sexiest women in the world, and forth in 2009. Shashi was also the cosmopolitan September 2008cover girl and appeared in the 2009 Sports illustrated. Shashi was one of the leading personalities in all the Woolworth's campaigns for 2008 and 2009. She went on to win the coveted January 2009 cover of Playboy, which showcases the calendar for 2009, where she also presented the Calendar Television show for Mnet, which was shot on location in Zanzibar. Shashi has been a MC during events for Shoprite Checkers Annual Suppliers Awards, International Mohair Summit, The Financial Forum, FNB HR Recognition Awards, VW Recognition Awards, Audi Award Dinner and the 5th Annual Women in Engineering Convention. She also went on to present awards at the SAMA Awards, YOU Spectacular and Glamour SA Most Glamorous. Her accolades include Glamour Model of the year, Feather Awards Hot Chick; Take Control Youth Adult achiever of the year, Gsport Style Star of the year, Grazia Magazine top 5 most Stylish. Naidoo is the sole owner of a modeling agency, Alushi Management. The agency started off with 5 models in 2008 and now represents over 400 models and celebrities. Currently, Shashi Naidoo is a co-host on South Africa's witty TV show Tongue in Cheek on SABC 3; Naidoo is also a Brand ambassador for Demalogica, Diva Divine hair, Cotlands Children's Home, Tumi Luxury Travel Bags, Glam Palm hair straighter. Recently, Shashi has become one of the founding members of Fashion with Feeling. This is the first major non profit organization in the Fashion industry, and has been established to inspire and empower individuals interested in the fashion industry, with a bias towards teenagers and young adults who are often overlooked. In June 2018, Naidoo posted on her Instagram account a defense of Israel's policy toward Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Naidoo called Gaza a "sh**hole" and criticized Hamas for pursuing an "ambition to annihilate Israel." The post sparked outrage in South African media. Several of Naidoo's sponsors cut their ties with Naidoo as a result of the backlash. After protests from BDS and being challenged to see the suffering of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation from advocates, Naidoo apologized, retracted her comments, deleted her Instagram post, and organized a trip to Palestine to witness first hand what was really happening there. When Naidoo attempted to visit Palestine, she was denied entry from the Israeli occupation due to ties with BDS. A Common tactic used by the Israeli occupation to shield their crimes grom the global eye. Later she appeared at a news conference with members of the South African BDS movement and apologized again.
Personal life
Shashi is a Hindu by religion. Naidoo dated reality TV contestant Ismail Hendricks, who appeared on the show The Apprentice South Africa in 2005. She married Mark Sandler in December 2009, but divorced in 2011. After focusing on her booming career for several years, she then dated South African Billionaire but both chose to amicably end the relationship in 2017. In 2009 she was the second season celebrity winner of Tropika Island of Treasure.
