Kiwis following TV soaps and reality shows made in New Zealand and will be seeing two contestants of Kiwi Asian descent participate in the much loved and followed reality show on TVNZ, The Bachelor New Zealand, Season 4.
Sabby Jey, Sri Lankan born New Zealander, and Kiwi Indian Shivani Meera Pragji are two of the 18 contestants of diverse ethnic backgrounds on the show that started earlier this month on TVNZ 2.
The eligible celebrity bachelor on the show to be wooed by the contestants is 30-year-old singer Moses Mackay from the musical trio Sol3 Mio who is swapping his mic for a rose, taking up the lead role on The Bachelor.
On selecting the duo (Shivani and Sabby), a spokesperson for the reality show from TVNZ said, “Sabby and Shivani are amazing women, and so, of course, we wanted them to be part of this adventure."
Sabby Jey is an entrepreneur, actor, and model-based in Auckland and has featured in several brand promotions and a couple of Tamil language films produced by the Kollywood industry in Chennai, India.
Speaking about The Bachelor, Sabby says she had spent a reasonable amount of time self-reflecting during the lockdown last year, and she hopes to see the next man in her life who shares a strong connection with her and appreciate a good sense of humour.
On what made her a contestant on the much-loved reality TV show, the 27-year-old bachelor says she has been single for a while and has been looking for a long-term partner, and it felt it might be the right time to be out there and meet some amazing new people.
“The lockdown made me realise I want to really live life and experience everything it had to offer,” Sabby said.
The other Kiwi Asian contestant Shivani Meera is a solicitor by profession and a travel enthusiast who, when not working, is usually out hiking, living it up in the Coromandel or enjoying a night out dancing.
On being a contestant on the popular show, Shivani says, “I felt like it might be an alternative way of meeting someone who aligned with my life path and thought.”
On asked, what made her choose to go on the show, Shivani said, “Everything in my life was thriving, but I am missing someone to share it with. I’ve always been daring and up for an adventure, so I thought, why don’t I give the show a chance and see if this will work for me and be able to represent the Indian community.”
Shivani is a third-generation Kiwi Indian, and her family hails from Navasari Vakaneer and Ganesh Sisordra villages in Gujarat, India. Her grandparents on both sides emigrated to New Zealand in the 1930s, and her paternal grandfather was born in New Zealand.
Her maternal grandfather was a founding member of the Wellington Indian sports club and Wellington Indian Association in the capital city.
“My grandparents came to New Zealand for new opportunities, and I feel very fortunate to have grown up in such a diverse country where I can still honour my roots, and it was important to be to show on the screen that no matter your ethnic background, opportunities like this in New Zealand are not limited,” Shivani told The Indian Weekender.
Shivani says she wants to remain authentic and herself when on the screen.
“Being comfortable with who are you inside and out helps with the pressure, and I believe it allows a genuine experience on the show.
“I also believe having an open mind helps with navigating the unknown world of reality television, and I am grateful that I grew up in an open-minded household and was extremely well supported by my family is going on the show,” Shivani added.
The Bachelor airs every Tuesday from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on TVNZ 2 and OnDemand.
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