Liezel van der Westhuizen

She may be have been the new face for Season 5 of MNET Idols and only the second woman in the world to present Idols, but Liezel van der Westhuizen has only been working in the home-grown entertainment industry for just over 4 years, starting out on TV as an SABC 3 continuity presenter as well as the presenter of SABC 3's live lunchtime talk show – Lunchbox. Liezel now presents SABC 3's new daily breakfast show –EXPRESSO and The Sunday Sundowner on 94.5KFM- live from Cape Town.

In 2010, Liezel was asked to present SABC 3's new breakfast show Expresso, live weekday mornings from 5:30-8:00. This show saw her move to Cape Town, where she currently lives and is also currently a presenter on 94.5KFM. Now in 2012, Liezel is training for the biggest canoe marathon race in the world, THE UNLIMITED DUSI Canoe Marathon to be held in KZN in February. Liezel has partnered with Canoeing SA's trainer, Greg van Heerden for this race.

Liezel's first radio show started on Gautengs Biggest radio station Jacaranda 94.2 and she hosted her own show called Liezel's Lounge. It was on the latter station that Liezel's ability to reach audiences, with her finely tuned, warm and hugely likeable presenting skills, earned her a strong following amongst the province's radio listeners. "I began my radio life at Tuks FM and was well and truly hooked on the joys of being able to use media to connect with people," she says. Those early days as music manager at Tuks FM whilst still studying led to a job offer at EMI Music South Africa, where Liezel held the position of International PR Manager working with an impressive array of global music stars, including Sarah Brightman, Atomic Kitten and Blue

It's no surprise that Liezel is so at ease when talking to an audience: this Pretoria raised-girl has a Masters Degree in Communication Management from the University of Pretoria and, since 2000, has been a member of Toastmasters International, having received her Advanced Toastmaster Bronze certificate in 2005. Liezel also holds a Degree in Human Resources Management and an Honours Degree in Communication Management; both from the University of Pretoria.
"I've always loved speaking in public and conveying my point of view to a broad audience," Liezel says of her Toastmaster experience. In fact so committed is she to the benefits of this form of communication that last year she taught public speaking and communication at Abraham Kriel Children's Home as a volunteer. "I'm passionate about young South Africans being able to stand up and speak, confidently and with knowledge, about the issues that move them," Liezel says simply. And in addition to her Toastmasters experience, Liezel is a recognised voiceover artist, having done an array of television and radio voiceover work. Liezel is the station voice not only for KFM but also for Gold Reef City Radio; Airports Radio and Carnival City Radio.

Liezel is also a sought after MC and has been the Programme Director at more than 200 events for top clients, including the Acer Aspire Launch, MTN's Womens Day; Oakley Summer Launch; Pick 'n Pay; Nivea; Mercedes Benz ;Blackberry; Dermalogica; Inglot; Tresseme; VO5; La Senza; Checkers and many more.

That Liezel is so focused on her own passions is entirely consistent with her personality: after all, this is a woman who, as a learner at Pretoria Girls never once missed a day of school, in her entire 12 years spent in the education system!

In fact, Liezel is no slouch when it comes to the other pursuits that she can't live without: sport and health. Liezel trains six days a week and follow a very healthy lifestyle. In 2009, Liezel was selected for the NESTLE ELITE TRIATHLON TEAM which saw her competing with some of SA's top Triathletes. It's a head-spinning array of physical passions that, when combined with Liezel's model-looks make it easy to see why she was a Top 8 finalist in the 2007 Shape magazine Sanex Cover Girl competition.

In 2008, Liezel received best newcomer nominations for both PEOPLE MAGAZINES CRYSTAL AWARDS as well as for YOU MAGAZINES STARS OF THE YEAR. Liezel was also received a series of recognitions in 2008 by being voted in at 56 in the FHM HOT 100 Sexiest Women in the World , as well as voted Number 98 in HEAT HOT 100 and showed off her style by being voted Number 4 in SIMON RADEMAN'S best dressed women in SA.

In 2009 Liezel was once again recognised as one of FHM's HOT 100 sexiest Women in the World, and was Nominated for Olay SA Iconic Woman Award for Media Personality; Liezel was also voted Number 90 in Heat Hot 100

But, for Liezel, what drives her to push on each day are new challenges and over the years she's earned a reputation as an MC of note. That said, with her heavyweight media background, keen intelligence, easy manner with audiences and cover-girl looks, it's surely not going to be long before Liezel becomes a household name.

• 2011 – Voted as one of Cosmopolitans Twitter Queen's
• 2011 – Nominated for G-Sport Style award
• 2011 - Nominated for Best Dressed at L'Ormarins Queen's Plate 2011
• 2010 - Voted Number 18 in FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World
• 2010 - Voted Number 62 in HEAT HOT 100
• 2010- Completed THE IRONMAN(3.8km swim;180km cycle and 42.2km run)
• 2009- Voted Number 63 in FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World
• 2009- Voted Number 90 in HEAT HOT 100
• 2009- Nominated for G-SPORT Most Stylish Personality
• 2009- Nominated for Olay SA ICONIC WOMAN for Media Personality
• 2008 - Voted Number 98 in HEAT HOT 100
• 2008 - Voted Number 56 in FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World
• 2008- Voted Number 4 in SIMON RADEMAN'S best dressed women in SA
• 2008 -Nominated Best New Comer – YOU MAGAZINE Stars of 2008
• 2008 - Nominated for Best New Comer – PEOPLE MAGAZINE Crystal Awards
• 2008 - Nominated for Best Dressed Presenter – PEOPLE MAGAZINE Crystal Awards
• 2008 -Nominated for Best TV Presenter – PEOPLE MAGAZINE Crystal Awards
• 2007 -Top 8 Finalist in Shape Magazine Cover Girl Search -
• 2007 -Voted Best Team Player – Shape Magazine Cover Girl Search
• 12 years School Attendance without Absence (Northridge Primary School & PTA Girls High)