It's Friday and I...

... love these pics, tweeted by Panascape! Thank you, Robert!

... am not partying tonight! Gym, tan and prepping for a shoot!

... am shooting with Naco Rautenbach tomorrow for the Streetfighters Magazine (UK based, but available in SA too). If we get the perfect shot, it'll be on the cover.

... had 4 'fat days' in a row. It seriously sucks.

... am super amped for the Playboy SA  launch party at Vaudeville, Fez tomorrow night! Come meet the girls from the Cape Town casting, Miss April, Miss May and cover girl, Tracy McGregor.

... also heard the boys from the Stormers and Crusaders are gonna be there. Did I ever tell you about my weakness for a rugbly player?

... went to Caprice in Camps Bay on Sunday and boys from the Sharks and Blue Bulls were there. Yeah, what a night, that's all I can say! I met ALL the players and left with some numbers too.

... made it to the top 100 of the Sports Illustrated New Model Search, thanks to each and every one of you who took the time to vote. Thank you very much! Now hold thumbs for the top 15.

... need you to please squeeze in some last votes for the FHM 100 Sexiest. Vote online by clicking here and type my name, Yolandi Malherbe, in the blocks on the right hand side of the page. Then click VOTE. Just by voting, you could win a PS3 with games and one guy, with a friend, can win a trip to be at the shoot of the overall winner. How awesome is that!

... fell in love with Stellenbosch! I love the vintage shops, the vibe, the people, the art shops and all the coffee shops. I simply can't get enough.

... cannot wait to get this weekend started, then ending it off with my wonderful mother on Mother's Day.

Happy Friday! Hope I bump into you at the Playboy party, so come say hello!

J

It's Friday and I...

... am so excited! The May, and final, NoMU poster arrived and should be up shortly!
... am having a girls night at our place tonight! Girls + dress-up theme = loads of fun!
... cannot stop buying boots! It's definitely my Winter must-have.
... would LOVE if you can squeeze in a few last votes before it closes on Sunday. Vote for me in the Sports Illustrated New Model Search by following this link, then clicking on 'vote'. Thank you!
... have received great feedback from the public with regards to my Playboy casting's photos, so I'm holding thumbs. Tightly.
... can't wait for this whole Royal Wedding to just get over and done with! Kate, enjoy your 'crown jewels'.
... LOVE the month of April with all its public holidays. Another long weekend awaits.
... haven't been to gym in weeks and I feel so guilty!
... love how my life has changed in such a short time! Dig it.

Ok, keeping it short and sweet! Happy Friday and enjoy the long weekend. Play nice.
J

It's Friday and I...

... just received this image from Naco Rautenbach Design Photography! You are the first to see it!
... finally have a moment to sit down and do a blog post!
... have been super busy, but it seems my modeling career is picking up.
... receive fan mail on a regular basis - which is still so weird, but totally sweet - and I received a letter yesterday from a group who call themselves 'the JHB girls' and they sent the nicest, most inspirational, letter! Thank you girls!
... was a judge last night at a beauty pageant and I think we chose a great top 15! Can't wait to be a judge at the main night. I love being so hands-on with these type of projects and I love how people value my opinion.
... am hoping to attend KFM's Kday tomorrow!
... didn't get the cover for the Trend Frenzy Magazine cover search, but congratulations to the winning girl.
... need you to please keep voting for me in the Sports Illustrated New Model Search! Click on the vote button and remember, you can vote more than once.
... can also be voted for in the FHM 100 Sexiest. So click here and fill my name in by the blocks on the right hand side of the page. Once you start typing 'Yolandi', my surname (Malherbe) should pop up. You have until May 7th to vote, so please help me follow this dream too! And just by voting, you stand a chance to win a Playstation 3, with Playstation Move,  plus some killer games. One FHM Fan and his mate, get to come on the FHM photoshoot with the winner. How cool is that?
... want all of you to get your hands on the Rapport Newspaper on Sunday and turn to the back page. Yes, I'm in the paper, but for a modeling competition again which will require some voting. Again. Yes, yes, I hate to ask, but vote for me and make me Miss June in their calendar competition! All the details will be in the paper. All the images they used of me, are brand new ones from my portfolio.
... really wanna be in Playboy SA! I saw the launch issue with Tracy McGregor and I think it's an awesome cover! Well done!
... just want to give a huge thank you to all my readers, followers and fans! Thank you for always visiting my blog, even though I can't update as much as I would love. And thank you for your ongoing support, votes or help when I need it. The day I reach all my goals and dreams, it will be because of you!
... am looking forward to Monday (never thought I'd say that). Public holiday! Bring it on!
... am so in love with Forever New! It's my new favourite and store of choice to go shopping at! If you love soft and flowing materials, floral prints and the whole vintage vibe, this place is for you.
... think you should definitely go visit The Bucket and read about FHM Fridays. They wrote a piece on me and named me the 'underdog model'. Love it!

Happy Friday everyone and enjoy the long weekend! Be safe.
J

It's Friday and I...

... am so grateful for all the voting you've done so far! Your wonderful, ongoing support has not made me regret my decision to enter the Sports Illustrated New Model Search. Please continue voting by clicking here. Yes, you can vote more than once.

... also feel extremely privileged that Sports Illustrated used me as their feature model on their website yesterday and asked people to vote for me!

... think the voting for the Trend Frenzy Magazine cover search, is still open, so please vote for me if you're on Facebook. Click this link and 'like' the page and then my photo. Each 'like' is a vote. So far I'm in second place, so thank you for that!

... had a proper interview with Gevaaalik.com and sent them a few photos from my latest portfolio shoot. Check it out here.

... am looking forward to my Monday Mooiness feature on My City by Night.

... am so busy lately and should definitely consider getting an assistant in the near future. Someone to do all my dirty work! Ha!

... want to send out a prayer to everyone in Japan and those affected by the earthquake and the Tsunami's. Tsunami alerts for New Zealand, Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Hawaii. Someone dear to my heart is in Manila, so send out your prayers please.

... can't wait for the day when I can hand in my resignation letter and say bye bye to the corporate world!

... wonder when the Cape Town Playboy SA castings will take place. Any idea?

Ok, enough with the random lists! Happy Friday and have a GREAT weekend!!

J

Eli Manning Named 5th Most Overrated Player?

By Tony Mangia

HE'S NOT PEYTON BUT HE'S NOT OVERRATED

In a Sports Illustrated poll voted by 239 of his peers, New York Giants QB Eli Manning showed up as  the 5th "Most Overrated Player" on the list.  Manning trailed only Terrell Owens, Tony Romo, Mark Sanchez and Albert Haynesworth.  Manning took a step up---last year he was number four on the list.

Four  years ago,  Manning deserved to be on the list. He was a hugely-hyped number one draft pick who played erratically and looked befuddled both on the field and sidelines.  He was drafted alongside Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers and was the younger brother of Robo-QB, Peyton.  His draft mates got off to quick starts while Eli struggled to find his way.

Since 2006, Manning has a Super Bowl trophy and game MVP by pulling off one the greatest upsets in the game's history and, since he first started in 2005, is second to only Peyton in games won with 53.  He has one Pro-Bowl under his belt is on pace to surpass Giants great Phil Simms in every quarterbacking category.

Why is Eli always called overrated?  Maybe disgruntled ex-Giant--an Eli Manning critic-- C.C. Brown stuffed the ballot box.  Eli will always be compared to his incomparable brother, but to lump him in with the aforementioned group?  Romo may have a flashier style and bigger numbers but his post-season record speaks for itself.  Sanchez is considered to be the beneficiary of an awesome D while T.O.'s and  Haynesworth's blather can't conceal their downswings. Even the highly-regarded Rivers should get votes before Eli.

Eli has played in 86 straight games and, in that time, has had a 4,000 yard season and thrown for 20 or more touchdowns five years in-a-row.  Most importantly, he has shown progress in every aspect of his game.

To be fair, the poll was taken before the season began and after a year the Giants didn't make the playoffs.  The New York spotlight could be partially to blame.  Remember back in 2008 when Derek Jeter was voted the most overrated player in the major leagues.  All he had on his resume were a dozen All-Star games and four World Series rings.  Nothing breeds negative comparisons like positive results.

The bottom line is that Eli Manning has become a winner.  He is 58-42 for his career including the playoffs.  He is having an excellent season despite all of the interceptions--blame his slippery-handed receivers--and has the Giants tied for the NFC East lead with a record of 4-2. He is in the NFC's top five in completion percentage, yards and touchdowns.

Eli will never be piled into the same group as Peyton or Tom Brady or Drew Brees and he'll never have the numbers of Aaron Rogers or Romo but he will end up the greatest Giant quarterback with at least one Super Bowl ring on his finger. He's durable and plays Giant football--get the ball into the gut of your running back, keep the defensive backs on their heels and win.  If that's overrated, we'll take it.