Raven-Symoné Falls in Love With South Africa While Filming ‘Cheetah Girls’ Movie
- Raven-Symoné opened up about her experience in South Africa during a Good Hope FM interview
- The former child star revealed how differently Mzansi feels compared to how it is portrayed in America
- She is in South Africa filming the latest Cheetah Girls movie: Next Gen, saying her castmates share the same sentiments about Mzansi
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Raven-Symoné has some strong words for Americans back home after spending time in South Africa.
She wants the world to know the country is nothing like it has been portrayed in the United States. The former child star, beloved for playing Olivia Kendall on The Cosby Show and the lead role in Disney's That's So Raven, sat down with Cape Town's Good Hope FM on 5 September 2026. When asked whether her experience in South Africa had lived up to expectations, she did not hold back.
Raven-Symoné says SA is being misrepresented
"I've only ever had one person in my life big up Cape Town the way that I've experienced it. In America, propaganda is a mess. So, when I get back there, I'm going back as an ally."
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Her admiration stretched beyond Cape Town. Raven shared that she had also visited Durban, describing the natural beauty of both cities as something she had not quite been prepared for.
"When I tell you the beauty that is this country and all over. I've been to Durban, and there too, the beauty of it, the earth itself."
Beyond the scenery, Raven spoke about how South Africa made her feel on a personal level. Unlike in the United States, she said she does not feel the pressure to perform her celebrity status or maintain a certain image. "It feels warm and inviting," she said, noting that a genuine sense of peace and relaxation had come over her during the visit.
Source: Getty Images
The Cheetah Girls take over Mzansi
Raven is in the country to film Cheetah Girls: Next Gen, the latest instalment in the beloved franchise. The production features a mix of original cast members and fresh talent, including South African actor Kamogelo Ramashala, who plays a character named Kendi.
She noted that the warm feeling about South Africa is not hers alone - it has spread across the entire cast.
"Everyone on the set of Cheetah Girls has been saying the same thing: that it feels correct here. You guys have a wonderful energy, and every country has their ups and downs, and we get to see the most beautiful part of it. If you're worried about your country, I understand, but just know you have a wonderful thing going on here. It feels great."
Her message to South Africans was clear - even as locals may feel weighed down by the country's challenges, an outsider's perspective reveals something worth celebrating.
Watch Raven-Symoné's full interview below.
Jordyn Woods documents South African honeymoon
In an earlier report, Briefly News shared online reactions to Jordyn Woods and her husband Karl-Anthony Towns' luxury safari adventure in South Africa.
The newlyweds kicked off married life in style, visiting different countries in Africa and didn't hold back when documenting their trip.
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Source: Briefly News
