Five celebrities who are qualified medical doctors
"This has been the most challenging, difficult, rewarding, depressing, and exciting time of my life," says Chatsworth beauty Karishma Ramdev about her medical journey.
There's more to some of Mzansi's biggest stars than meets the eye. Behind all the glitz and glam are qualified doctors who have saved many lives.
From beauty queens to TV presenters and singers - you will be surprised to find out which A-list stars added "doctor" to their titles.
Here's a look at just some of the South African celebrities who are qualified doctors.
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Doctor Tamaryn Green
Miss South Africa 2018 has the beauty and the brains to match! Green completed her medical doctorate in 2019. She obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree (MBChB) at the University of Cape Town. Tamaryn has shared several pictures from her internships in 2020 and 2021. The 27-year-old, who recently married businessman Ze Nxumalo, described her journey as "challenging yet fulfilling".
"I made the decision to study medicine because my father always wanted to be a doctor but couldn’t. The apartheid era brought many challenges that prevented him from pursuing the career,” she said in 2018.
Doctor Musa Mthombeni
Former child star Musa Mthombeni became a qualified medical doctor in 2017. The YoTV star juggled his TV career and studies at first, but later took a break from the entertainment industry to focus on his degree.
“We all have time; it’s just a matter of how you manage it. I have always been a busy person. When I left YoTV, I was still in the entertainment industry doing a midnight show... I was also studying medicine at Wits University. There was a point where medical school needed more of my time because we had exams every six weeks, so I had to be fully focused,” he told Move! magazine in 2017.
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Doctor Rolene Strauss
Graduated medical doctor Rolene Strauss wears many titles. She is a former Miss South Africa and Miss World winner. The beauty queen is also an entrepreneur, wife, and mother of two. Rolene followed in the footsteps of her father, Dr Hennie Strauss, after high school. She obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of the Free State in 2017.
"I’m a test tube baby and I believe my passion for health was born with me. My love for health and medicine is what got me back to studying. There were so many opportunities to be explored after my year as Miss World, but I wouldn’t have been ‘Rolene’ if I didn’t finish my medical studies. I have absolutely no regrets," she said in a statement.
Rolene took a break after her studies and did not immediately complete her medical internship. She decided to focus on several projects before taking the next step in the medical field.
UPDATE: Rolene has since changed career paths. She just obtained her Master’s Degree in Philosophy and Management Coaching (Cum Laude) from the University of Stellenbosch Business School.
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Doctor Tumi
If his name wasn't enough of a clue, singer Dr Tumi is a qualified doctor who still practices in the field. He has more than 12 years of experience in medicine. The gospel star volunteered his services at Tembisa Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"So many of us are no longer in the public sector and that’s where things are happening right now. Obviously those doctors are going to be overworked and overwhelmed. They need all the help they can get. So I thought as opposed to being locked up at home how about I go out and help not only my colleagues, but our people as well," he told the Sowetan in 2020.
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Doctor Karishma Ramdev
Another South African beauty queen who is rounding off our list of celebrities who are qualified medical doctors is Karishma Ramdev. The Miss SA 2020 finalist. who hails from Chatsworth, recently completed her final day of her internship.
"Two years and 3 months later and I can honestly and easily say this has been the most challenging, difficult, rewarding, depressing and exciting time of my life. I learnt a lot about myself - like how I enjoy practical medicine but don’t feel the same about overnight calls. Like how I wanted to be a surgeon but maybe that’s not the path that was meant for me? (We will see)," she wrote on Instagram.
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Main image credit: Instagram/ @karishma_ramdev, @rolenestrauss, @drmusamthombeni