Jesse Suntele (born 18 September 1992) is a South African actor, model, rapper and television personality. He became popular by winning the second season of the

BET Black Entertainment Television (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los A ...

reality competition series Top Actor Africa in 2016.

Early life and education

Jesse Suntele was born in

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. He attended primary school at Fairsand Primary School before moving to Bloemfontein in grade 4. After matriculating from St. Joseph's Christian Brothers College, he moved back to Johannesburg to study Sound Engineering at the Academy of Sound Engineering.

Career

Television

In 2013, he auditioned for the SABC 1 reality competition ''U Can Do It'' and made it into the Top 10. In 2014, he got a starring role in the first-season finale of the SABC 1 documentary-drama ''Ngempela'', which was his first credited television acting role. In 2015, he got a guest starring role on SABC 1's '' Generations: The Legacy''. In that same year, he got his first recurring role on the

e.tv e.tv (commonly referred to on-air as e) is the first and only privately owned free-to-air television station in South Africa. It is the fifth terrestrial television channel in the country, following three channels that are operated by the sta ...

soapie '' Ashes to Ashes''. The following year in 2016, he won the second season of ''Top Actor Africa'' on

. In that same year, he debuted on the Mzansi Magic telenovela '' The Queen'', making his first appearance in the first season as Tuelo ("Officer Bae"), a policeman by day and a serial killer by night. In 2017, he was also one of the main hosts for entertainment and variety show BET A-List. He also joined the cast of the Vuzu Amp reality competition series ''The Hustle'', where he was one of the Season 2 contestants, using the rapper stage name "J-Flo" and made it into the Top 6. In that same year, he was nominated in the

Feather Awards The Feather Award is the most notable achievement in the field of dance, "the dancer's equivalent to the Oscars" or Academy Awards. Feather Award Recipients: Lifetime Achievement: Joe Cassini, presenter: Ann-Margret Ann-Margret Olsson (bo ...

, for Hunk of the Year. In 2018, he joined the

soapie '' Rhythm City'' in the role of Nqaba. In 2022, Suntele was cast as Phila Bhengu in the South African Netflix drama series '' Savage Beauty''.

Music

He has released music as J-Flo, his singles include ''High by the Beach'' and ''Outta Town''. He has also been featured on

Kelly Khumalo Kelly Nonhlanhla Khumalo (born November 11, 1982) is a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. Born and raised in Nquthu, KwaZulu-Natal, she was discovered while performing at a gospel talent search and signed a record deal with ...

's single ''Jehova''. In May 2021, he released his debut EP, ''What Did You Expect''.

Filmography

Television

Discography

EPs

* ''What Did You Expect'' (2021)

Singles

Awards and recognition

*2018 Cosmo Sexiest Men Finalist *2018 Mzansi's Sexiest top 12

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Suntele, Jesse Living people 1992 births Male actors from Johannesburg Musicians from Johannesburg People from Gauteng South African male models South African male television actors South African rappers