Diane de Beer
“My look,” says Suzelle, South Africa’s DIY diva, “is about being vibrant and to creatively play with colour.”
She also goes for a cinched waist because, says Suzelle in her Afrikaans-tinged English, “it accentuates my womanly curves.” The high heels, which are part of her persona, are all about glamour. “And it gives me confidence,” she says, pronouncing it with a loud “K”.
This internet personality’s videos on YouTube became a sensation almost a year ago and she is regularly watched by more than 100 000 people. “When I thought of myself and my career,’’ says her creator and impersonator, Julia Anastasopoulos, “it was as an actress in small theatre productions and adverts for a bit of money and as an illustrator of children’s books.”
With this dramatic turn of events, life has changed for her and partner Ari Kruger, who started as an animator, but now features as director for the YouTube inserts and so much more. Julia has discovered her inner comic and believes that’s where her strength lies, but that was not where her head was at when they started with what has become a life-changer.
With her promotional book tour for Suzelle DIY The Book (Human and Rousseau, R325), also available in Afrikaans, Julia has stepped out of her normal grey, black or muted tones and slipped into the more visible canary yellow, pink or shocking purple couture of the celebrated Suzelle. Heavily accessorised with a bow and a bolla and lips postbox-red, she loves showing the people how to make things right.
“I’m quite a DIY-girl,” says Julia, “and have always been, in my real life.” With a theatre background, she and her stylist sister (who does the styling for the Suzelle videos) had a huge wardrobe. “I’m not a fashionista,” she explains, but this kind of thing hugely interests her and that’s why creating this fictional creature came so naturally to her.
It’s the understanding that there had to be a look, and her drama studies at UCT that helped her to pull it off and make it so real. From food to gardening to the kitchen, clothes and cleaning, it’s all part of the drill. “Suzelle is also a shortcut chef. Lots of puff pastry and braai and boerewors is also her thing.”
They knew it all lent itself to parody, but not the smirking kind. Celebration is how they slant it.
Julia and Ari also believe their innocent approach to this one gave it authenticity. “It comes from a place of celebration and a place of play. We’re not being political or nasty.”
They also didn’t expect it to become such a hit. Even as Julia, she is now being noticed.
She loves playing the part and easily slips from the persona to her own person – and back. And while the book is cleverly put together and such a good Christmas gift, they are already busy with longterm plans. Suzelle has become a brand and the couple are looking at longevity in both the short and long term.
Around the corner is the launch of the Suzelle merchandise and they have lots of other goodies up Suzelle’s colourful sleeves. Julia can see live performances, something she relishes, and there’s a movie down the line. Think Muriel’s Wedding, for example; there’s no reason a Suzelle would not have international appeal.
“We’ve always wanted to do a movie,” says Julia of her and Ari’s dreams. And that could just be their international entree. “It will probably be a pre-cursor to her life on the web,” says Julia about the Suzelle story. She thinks of it as a dark comedy.
For this power couple, it all started and is still about the web, that’s where they want to play, perform and prolong the life of anything they create.
Along the way, while the two started out on their own, they have brought in Julia’s friend who has become Marianne.
“I would never have imagined myself functioning in the social media world,” says Julia, but that’s where they have been so smart. It’s instant entertainment for people who want a quick smile – easily.
There’s more bubbling under the surface as the possibilities of what they have created have become a career treasure trove. “I love the performance,” says Julia, which makes perfect sense. She and Ari have proved that in this instance, the world is Suzelle’s stage.
If you haven’t yet met this DIY dynamo, check her on YouTube, in this book or if you don’t get around to either of those two, wait for the live performances or even the movie.