Wanjiku Karanja aka Shix Kapienga is a girl with humble beginnings from Kangemi to the big screen.
She has often spoken about how tough life was in 'Ungem' as it is referred to by the dwellers.
The Kenyan actress has been featured in many TV series' and films cementing her status as a Kenyan icon.
She is part of the amazing cast in the Double Pearl Productions movie called Kiza which premiered a few days ago.
Shix is also featured on the Pink Ladies a show that airs on Rembo TV with Azziad Nasenya, Dorea Chege, and Pascal Tokodi.
Shix walked down memory lane in a recent appearance on TV47 with Dr Ofweneke where he hosted the Pink Ladies.
The Pulse Media Influencer Of The Year 2021 spoke about the breakthrough moment in her career.
She told Ofweneke that;
"Beba beba was my first show on TV," which led to other acting offers she is grateful for "Then came Siri, then Nairobi Half Life then Shuga 2."
The first episode of MTV Shuga premiered in 2009. The series raised awareness of HIV and Aids, peer pressure, love, and heartbreak.
Lupita Nyongo starred as Ayira, a beautiful, confident, and vivacious college student, in Shuga series 1, set in Kenya.
At the time, Lupita described working in Shuga as “a trip”. “[Shuga] has been amazing because it’s been very well received over Africa, so effective and rewarding."
“I think one thing the campaign [Shuga] is trying to do is talk about how HIV and AIDS is not a death sentence,” Lupita told CNN in an interview in 2010. “[HIV] is a condition that can be managed, if one chooses to do so, if one catches it early on you can live a healthy life with HIV.” I’ve been able to be an ambassador for HIV and AIDS” she said.
Shix gushed about her role in the same series as Ofweneke asked her how impactful it was
"I acted with Lupita, but do I say. umewahi tafuta tweet, well it X now, have you ever scrolled for a tweet, where she wrote and mentioned me,"
"Aki I have looked for it, nimetafuta hio tweet sijawahi pata, mpaka wa leo, umwewahi tafut aiel watu huweka kaa TBT, na una screenshot unashow watu? mpaka wa leo sijawahi pata, but yes we acted together,"
Shuga turned out to be a hit - airing in 40 different African countries before eventually airing internationally on 70 TV stations.
"She (Lupita) was very nice, very friendly, very humble, very loving by the way."
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