Marciel Hopkins

Many might know her as the presenter of the popular Afrikaans matchmaker series, Boer Soek ’n Vrou, but there is much more to Marciel Hopkins than playing Cupido. In fact, this go-getter has been reaching great heights with her career – from presenting, acting and empowering women through motivational talks, to modelling across the globe.

The Boer Soek ’n Vrou presenter grew up with her toes between grape skins and from a young age, she helped harvesting and pressing grapes and making wine. Her father, Charles Hopkins is a well-known winemaker in the Cape Winelands, and she says: “I drove around on the farm with my dad; I had to name all the cultivars.” Marciel grew up on the farm, Bellingham (which later became Graham Beck) and when she turned thirteen, they moved to Paarl after her father accepted the position of Cellar Master at De Grendel Wine Estate.

With the winelands in their blood, there has always been a focus on hospitality, celebration and entertainment in Marciel’s family. Especially over times like Easter. Excellent food must always be paired with the best wines and the excitement around planning and executing these special family events is evident.

One of the biggest things I learned from my parents was to be a good entertainer,” Marciel says. “You keep the glasses full, you make enough food; you know, that kind of thing.”

Easter Time Is Family Time

9 April marks Marciel and her husband, Handré Joubert’s first anniversary and while they celebrated their first Easter on their honeymoon in the South of France, they’re looking forward to spending this year’s Easter with their families. The couple met in Franskraal, where both their families have been vacationing for years. This year shouldn’t be much different, Marciel says. “We make it priority to be with family this time of the year.” The bonus is that their two families get along well and that they can celebrate Easter together as one big happy family.

A Family Of Their Own

Marciel and Handré are keeping their family small and manageable for now. They are the proud parents of two cats – Krummels and Koekie – and although she says they would love to have children, it won’t be soon.

“I think for three years I’ve worked really hard and made a lot of sacrifices in terms of being away from home. In total, I am away from home ten weeks of the year,” she says. She has just established herself as presenter and would like to use the platform to take on possible upcoming opportunities. “My theme for the year is availability brings opportunity – something I did not have in the past year.”

Courageous Optimism

Today, it takes moral courage to be ever optimistic, yet Marciel is a self-proclaimed eternal optimist. She loves life and lives it to the full, sharing it with those around her and inspiring others to do the same.

As a freelancer she generally runs about six different income streams at a time. This includes presenting, acting, hosting motivational talks, collaborating with brands for paid campaigns, modelling and more. She recently finished filming the fifteenth season of Boer Soek ’n Vrou - her third season as presenter. In addition to that, she is also very passionate about her motivational talks, having done more than twenty across the country in the past year. This time of year is also modelling season in the Cape, which means there are constant castings and auditions, and somehow Marciel also finds the time to offer life coaching sessions in between. Her ultimate dream, though, is to land a major acting role – preferably an English one. Still, she says she’s learned not to put too much hope in landing a specific role, as you often go for many auditions and rarely get the part. “I believe the right role will come at the right time,” she says. “It is often a timing thing – are you available and is it what they want?”

MARCIEL’S FAVOURITE TO-DOS AROUND THE CAPE:

For the best pizza (better than real Italian pizza, she claims), visit Bardelli’s Restaurant in Kenilworth.

For brunch, visit Four & Twenty in Wynberg. “The best cheesecake you’ll ever eat in your life.”

Q @fourandtwentycafe

The best fine dining restaurant is undoubtedly Silvermist Wine Estate’s La Colombe in Constantia Nek.

Q @lacolombect about the skill development element in life coaching. “Where therapy works backwards to heal the pain, life coaching works forward. Where are you now, and where do you want to be?”

In a way, Marciel’s passions collided when she was cast as presenter for Boer Soek ’n Vrou “It’s in the entertainment industry, but I still need so much of the life coaching and psychology.”

Lessons From The Farm

Being the presenter of Boer Soek ’n Vrou can’t not change you. Marciel says it definitely had an impact on her lookout on life.

Cold water swimming at the Camps Bay tidal pool. A fun challenge for people visiting the Cape. The rule: You do it in winter too!

Up Cycles in Sea Point. Marciel and Handre enjoy doing this, riding from Sea Point to Camps Bay, renting cycles for the day, stopping where you want to for lunch or brunch.

Q @upcycles

De Grendel’s wines are of course also a must.

Q @degrendelwines feel good.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, Marciel and Handré exercised on their Cape Town cottage’s patio and shared some of the routines on social media. This snowballed into people wanting to see more, with fans finding her fitness routines downright inspirational. It resulted in her collaborating with a professional fitness trainer, and together they formulated a fitness programme in the form of an e-book, which people can download and use in the comfort of their own homes.

A GUIDE TO MARCIEL’S GLOW

Marciel always has a glow about her. Could it be the magic of an acclaimed skin medic, or does it run deeper? She confirms it’s both. Marciel has been with her skin medic, Günther Oliver for seven years and can’t stop singing his praises. In addition to her skin secrets, Marciel is also an optimist who always sees the glass half full. She has a conductor’s chair vision of life and says that if you dream, make a change, empower women and live out your individual dreams, an inner happiness abounds.

Still, she says happiness is a choice. “I am really happy in my work and in my personal life. But I think [happiness] is also something that you need to choose. It depends on how you look at life. It’s a perspective thing.”

MOMS BREAK THE FALL

Marciel’s mother certainly also had an impact on her view of life. There is no friendship like the friendship between a mother and her daughter and with Marciel and her mom, it’s no different. A mother is your first friend, becomes your best friend and stays your friend forever and Marciel says she and her mom are very good friends. “Because I wasn’t in res, she was my best friend. I told her everything … There has always been that confidant element … It’s a special relationship – mom and daughter.”

Mindful Planning Toward Meaningful Impacts

In addition to her degree in drama, the multi-talented presenter and actress has an honours degree in psychology from the University of Stellenbosch. It was in her honours year that she also took the leap to enter Miss South Africa – a hectic, yet probably the most defining year of her career, she says. This eventually led to a very successful modelling career. With almost 100 000 followers on Instagram alone, Marciel has grown into an inspiring South African icon to many.

“I still want to make an impact on people’s lives and empower and motivate women,” Marciel says, which is why she also studied life coaching. She is particularly passionate

“I think the biggest impact was on how much insight and respect and appreciation I have for my own country.” Having been born and bred in the Western Cape, it was only with Miss South Africa and the opportunities it brought about that Marciel really started travelling between Cape Town and Johannesburg, and later internationally. “I probably saw ten international destinations before I really saw my own country,” she admits. But, Boer Soek ’n Vrou changed that in a matter of months, with Marciel having had to travel across various provincial borders to meet each season’s farmers. “I feel so blessed, because few people get to see our country in so much detail and depth…and width! It deepened my being. It widens one’s perspective about life, the country, people’s different circumstances.”

WOW! I FEEL GOOD…

Marciel’s fitness programme, Feel Good Fitness is another result of her positive outlook on life and general way of thinking. For her, exercise is much more than being skinny, losing weight or punishing yourself for indulging in delicious cuisine. She had a huge mind shift post Miss South Africa and now exercises merely because it makes her

QUICK 5:

HL: White or red wine?

MH: MCC? If I have to say, then red wine. But my first instinct, my first love is always MCC.

HL: Which items do you and Handré reuse or recycle regularly in your home?

MH: I think boxes. We either make a fire with it, or I use the pretty ones as storage.

HL: Movie on the couch, or painting Cape Town red at night?

MH: Movie on the couch (laughs). I am thirty now, so I am claiming that I don’t have the capacity anymore. Painting the town red every now and then, but definitely not on a regular basis.

HL: Platforms or heels?

MH: Heels.

HL: Rural farm holiday or luxurious hotel stay?

MH: Luxurious hotel stay.

Her mother plays a very important supporting role in her life. When she decided to take part in Miss South Africa and no one really took her seriously, her mother was the one who helped her, supported her and motivated her. “I am very grateful to her.”

Even after getting married and turning 30 recently, her mom is still the person she phones first. “My husband was upset the other day. Someone drove into my car door and I phoned my mom before I phoned him,” she laughs. “She will break the fall, and then I will phone everyone else.”

Watching The Future Unfold

Marciel is excited about what her future holds, with many avenues and opportunities aligning themselves perfectly. She sees it as an exciting life journey. “Obviously one has a couple of things one hopes for and dreams about…” she says. “One must be open and ready for opportunities when they arise, because it usually comes quickly and then you need to be prepared.” H

#HelloLifestyle by Renate Engelbrecht Images: Supplied