Meet one of Xposé's newest talents, Remy Naidoo.
If Remy Naidoo looks familiar, it may be because you've witnessed her presenting pieces to camera on your TV recently. Or modeling on a clothing website. Or singing jazz in your local restaurant. Actually, it might have been on stage acting? Or wait, was it her performances on The Voice of Ireland or as a backing singer in the Eurovision? Whatever it may have been, the 24-year-old certainly has a memorable presence.
The multi-hyphenate performer, the daughter of a Dublin woman and an Indian father by way of South Africa, has built up a CV that even the most seasoned of entertainers would be envious of.
After finishing a music degree, Naidoo landed a six month gig as a production runner on The Six O'Clock Show. Unlike your average post-college placement, the role ultimately ended up catapulting the brunette straight in front of the camera on TV3's flagship fashion and entertainment show, Xposé.
(Image via Remy Naidoo)
"The Six O'Clock Show taught me a huge amount about live television, and how a daily show runs, with a fantastic and hard working small team. While I was there, I realised presenting was something I wanted to do. I ended up singing backing vocals for Ryan O’Shaughnessy at the Eurovision this year. I had gotten to know the Xposé team while working in the building, and they asked me to take over their Instagram account for the Eurovision final. I was asked to come in for a screen test when I got home, and the rest is history," she explained.
Despite having "zero broadcasting experience", Naidoo impressed the show's executive producer Debbie O'Donnell, whom she calls "absolutely amazing".
"I think my favourite thing about working on the show is the different packages you get to shoot," Naidoo said of her presenting role. "I worked for a full day with them yesterday - I shot a fashion package in The Ivy, then interviewed the amazing fashion designer Zoe Jordan, and then went to interview the Irish band, Picture This."
Such variety, she said, is both a great challenge and an invaluable opportunity to learn the skills required to make it in television.
"They are teaching me how to edit as well which is a skill you need to have. The full-time ladies on the show edit their packages, as well as script them. It’s hard work, but I love it. I think people think you just show up with everything done for you and then get to go home - most of the time the girls are running from shoots back to studio and all over town," she revealed.
While she has taken to presenting like a duck to water, she hasn't let her musical ambitions fall by the wayside. Every Saturday, Naidoo can be found singing in Old Street bar and restaurant in north Dublin suburb Malahide.
"I listened to lots of different genres growing up, as my parents have a fantastic music collection, but Frank Sinatra was the first album I remember singing along to. It’s always been a part of me. I love singing, but I do it as a hobby. I don’t think I would ever consider it as a full time career."
Her flair for acting, on the other hand, is something that she is very serious about. Naidoo is lining up a busy season, as she will appear as in both Great Expectations and The Playboy of the Western World (both at the Mill Theatre in Dundrum) early next year.
"I audition every now and then for TV shows. I actually would love to pursue it further, but it’s a hard industry. I don’t have an agent at the moment either, so if there are any reading this, sign me up," she laughed.
While she admits that being on-camera can be "quite scary", the most fundamental lesson she has learned is to just be herself.
"You just have to forget it [the camera] is there and pretend you're having casual chats with the person. There are many things you are trying to remember, but they become second nature after a while, it's like anything, practice makes perfect! I look back at the first package I shot in June, and I can see such a huge improvement. The more you do, the more confident you become," she maintained.
With her killer style, she certainly makes it look like a doddle. While Naidoo said it can be difficult to feel like you must never wear the same thing twice, it's essential to learn how to reinvent an existing garment.
"My mum has instilled in me not to buy five tops, but to get one good top and it will last you much longer - she is 100% right," she said.
Her usual go-to places to shop are Zara, & Other Stories, H&M, Cos, and Grenson for winter boots - but for a "special treat" she looks to the likes of Sandro or Maje.
"I work part-time in a beautiful clothes boutique called Costume; if I won the lottery I would buy out the whole shop. In terms of clothing, I love a good trouser suit. I got a beautiful navy and gold brocade suit in Zara a few months ago, and I can’t wait to bring it out over Christmas. My all time favourite shop has to be Liberty in London. I could spend all day in there - like Holly GoLightly outside Tiffany's!"
Apart from her fashion advice, Naidoo also imparted a wise nugget that will benefit all career-orientated folk.
"If you are confident in your ability to be able to do something, and know that you are good at what you do, the rest will come. Work your ass off. Nobody is going to ring your door, you have to bang down theirs."
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