Ayesha Hakki ‘s Oprah Dreams for OWN, Oprah Winfrey’s new network
“Sometimes in life you have to take a chance no matter how much of a long shot it may be. It’s the same reason that drives us to buy a lottery ticket or even to take a chance on love after you’ve had your heart broken into a gazillion pieces,” says Ayesha Hakki, editor of Bibi Magazine and blogger behind Ruby40 “You don’t know what the outcome is going to be, but you hope against hope that this time will be the one that changes your life. It’s with that attitude that I decided to submit an audition tape for Oprah’s search for a Talk Show Host for her OWN network ”
Well, the time seems ripe for it – a Desi Oprah! South Asians have a finger in everything so why not imparting wisdom to the masses a la Oprah? None less than Oprah Winfrey herself has come up with the idea of opening up the talk show host slot to just about every woman in America.
“Your OWN Show: Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star” is a competition series that will premier on OWN, Oprah Winfrey’s new network, in 2011. The winner of the series will host their own talk show produced for OWN. Oprah wannabes were asked to make an audition tape and upload it to the website or attend a casting call in several major US cities. From this group of finalists, a group of ten cast members will be chosen to appear in the television competition series.
One online favorite from the top five online submissions will be chosen for the television competition series, and flown to Los Angeles for the final selection. The nail biting will go on till January 2011, when the first episode of Your OWN Show will air and the results will be known.
Ayesha Hakki, the effervescent editor of Bibi magazine and Bibi PR, and the blogger behind Ruby40, hopes to take a shot at it, and have some fun in the process. Check out her audition video.
Interview with Oprah contender Ayesha Hakki
1. How did you think of auditioning for Oprah?
This year I turned forty and I’m doing 40 things I always wanted to do but never got around to due to society, social pressures, fear and plain old procrastination. So before I officially become old, I’m having my last hurrah so to speak. Auditioning for Oprah is number 5 on the list.
3. Do you think there are a lot of women – like you – out there – single, 40, balancing life and enjoying it?
Absolutely! But I think we are at an unusual time where for the first time, finding a husband is not the ultimate goal. That in itself gives us the freedom to really live life. However, that first-time quotient brings with it a lot of questions and concerns, things where the answers are not completely clear.
For example, should we go ahead and buy our own homes without a man? If we meet someone, will he be intimidated? And if he’s making less than me, should I go ahead and support him financially? What are the consequences of having traditional roles reversed…and how do we come to terms with it, especially since our generation was raised to believe, want and pursue those exact roles.
3. Why is your blog called Ruby40?
Ruby is the gift for a 40th anniversary and it is also one which is known to create a star-like quality through its inherent flaws. I can’t think of a more perfect stone. If you read my first blog post, I actually go into detail about the name of the blog.
4. What special talents do you think you bring to the show?
I have been blessed with the gift of gab coupled with an intense curiosity about human beings in general. Hence, I know I can engage people in a conversation and have them feel comfortable with me. Just yesterday a newfound friend confessed to being in rehab. I will never say who, since it’s his secret and he’s not ready to reveal it, but he felt comfortable enough to tell me. Things like that happen to me all the time. I guess I have an honest face. Now I just have to get Oprah to agree!
5. Are you aware there are some other desi Oprah contenders?
Yes, and some of them are quite good as well. I am not positioning myself as a South Asian though. I’m really talking to all woman who are in their 40’s and are trying to come to terms with our mid-lives. I think my look and name are also somewhat ethnically ambiguous so I hope that will have more women relating to the subject matter.
6. As the Desi Oprah, what would you bring to the show if you get it?
Definitely a great wardrobe – and many, many pairs of shoes!
And So….
In her philosophical and fun blog, Hakki listed the Oprah audition to be one of the 40 things she liked to do. She writes:
“My friend Darius, a talented musician and a profoundly ambitious guy once sent me a YouTube video that showed a single man in a crowd dancing at a concert somewhat oddly. Soon enough, however he was joined by one, two, then five and finally, a massive crowd of people all dancing to his particular rhythm.
Today I feel like that man…out there, doing my own thing and hopefully inspiring a few others to follow suit no matter how crazy the idea.
And with that, even though it would be nice to win a chance to be on Oprah’s reality show, I feel content that at the very least I tried and more importantly, maybe I inspired someone to dream a little bigger. And according to Life According to Oprah, that in itself, makes the whole process worth it!”
