Helen Duplooy

Hlengiwe Ayanda Duplooy (b. 26th December, 1977), known professionally as Helen Duplooy is a South African-Zimbabwean television presenter, author, activist, singer and songwriter. She is best known for her high-profile television and music career in Kuboia from 2001 to 2010.

Early life
Hlengiwe Ayanda Duplooy was born on 26th December, 1977 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Her mother was of Zimbabwe origin, whilst her father was a South African.

Growing up in a strict family with her four siblings, Duplooy cited her childhood as having "very little, if any, fun at all". When Duplooy's parents separated when she was six years old, she lived with her father, who would force her and her siblings to spend their weekends working for little pay.

In 1994, at the age of sixteen, Duplooy cut most of her family out of her life - she ran away from home and spent two months moving between cheap, low-quality hotels. Eventually, she befriended a Kuboian tourist, Xia Raison, who helped her move in to a cheap Jetkeep in Goodghetto, West Kuboia.

Duplooy spent the next several years of her life working multiple part-time shifts. Eventually, in 2000, she put her name down to become a television presenter, believing it would be the only way to earn enough money to support her two children who she had with Raison.

Family and relationships
Duplooy cut ties with most of her family in 1994 when she was sixteen, and did not speak to either of her parents for seven years after her father discovered about her career in Kuboia. According to her father, he, for six years, believed that she was dead. After rekindling with their daughter, Duplooy's parents became somewhat high-profile people amongst Duplooy's friends and colleagues. Duplooy's mother died of a heart attack in 2011 at the age of 73, her father died on natural causes in 2018 at the age of 82.

Duplooy has three children between two men, born in 1996, 1998 and 2004 respectively. She also has two grandchildren.

In 2003, Duplooy revealed that she is bisexual.

Religion
Duplooy is a Christian.

Lawsuit
In 2017, Duplooy initiated a series of lawsuits against her former manager Arthur Fabian for emotional abuse, as well as racist, sexist and homophobic behaviour towards her, Ericka Streets and Kool Teazer. As of 2020, the case is ongoing.

Studio albums

 * 2 Dance 2 (2003)

As lead artist

 * 2003: "Get Up" (feat. X-Treme)
 * 2003: "Let's Dance" (feat. MC Granny)
 * 2003: "Mother Said" (feat. Dan Guseo)
 * 2004: "My Life"
 * 2009: "Get Down With Me"
 * 2013: "Take a Chance"
 * 2017: "If You Could See Me Now"
 * 2020: "For the Future" (feat. ZD)

As featured artist

 * 2004: "Not Alone Tonight" (Paris Urban Collective feat. Helen Duplooy)
 * 2004: "Eye on the Prize" (X-Treme feat. Helen Duplooy)
 * 2006: "Ready for the Moment" (Dan Guseo feat. Helen Duplooy and Amy-Elizabeth)