Zimbabwe's female Russell Simmons

Zimbabwe's female Russell Simmons

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By Showbiz Reporter

SHE has met top producer Damon Dash and credits legendary rapper, Biggie Smalls, for easing her and her family into American life after they moved from Zimbabwe, and she is only 23!

Meet Makhosazana Ndlovu, a Zimbabwean with a cause.

The business administration student now living in Indianapolis has been presented with an opportunity of a lifetime -- to run her very own music label under Warner Music Group.

AOL, Stick Figure Productions and Warner Music Group hosted a competition which began with 9000 contestants and has now been narrowed down to 14, and Makho is among the last 14 finalists.

She plans on becoming the female version of Russell Simmons, the mega-rich music mogul. She has interned for Roc-A-Fella Records and is determined to make it in the music business.

This year, she participated in the Miss ZimUSA pageant 2005 and was one of the top five finalists.

She said: “My love affair with music started a long time ago when I was in Zimbabwe. My friends and I loved music so much that even as little kids we would sit indoors for hours upon hours writing down lyrics to songs and memorising them.

“In fact that helped me learn the English language even quicker. A lot of music was banned in Zimbabwe and acts like Salt-N-Pepa had lyrics that the government thought were profane. But that only fuelled our interest in the songs and in addition to learning them we would choreograph dances and perform in front of friends and family.”

For Makho to progress to the last 10, she needs YOUR vote and this is how you can do it: Visit www.thebiz.com and vote Makho in to the top ten. You may vote as much as five times. All voting must be completed by Friday, September 30, 2005
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shapiro@newzimbabwe.com