From trailer park to International Talent Manager – Elsubie Verlinden shares her story

Chairman and CEO of Top Talent Agency — 33 & Me, producer of the largest talent convention in Africa — The International Arts Talent Showcase (IATS), as well as the Premiere Agent for AMDA, these are just a few of the honourable titles bestowed upon the Talent Scout. 

With a resume that screams success, things weren’t always easy for Elsubie and her family. Growing up with a father in construction, the youngster moved from site to site as the family tried to make ends meet. She learnt early on that living in a caravan park was frowned upon, as her school friends were not allowed to have play dates or sleepovers. Instead, the young and resilient Elsubie dreamt up imaginary friends, who acted as the audience while she performed for them in the tent.

It was here that Elsubie not only discovered her talent in acting and modelling, but she also developed humility and a burning passion to serve others. Teaching and uplifting rural communities and uplifting the youth of our nation is the core focus for this Sandton based CEO. Just as she had to work hard to find her footing, her aim is to empower the children of today to move from poverty thinking to a prosperity mindset. Her desire is to develop the confidence of the youth and empower them to believe that their voice matters.

Powerfully equipped with 25 years of industry experience and knowledge, Elsubie is actively involved and dominating all spectrums of the music, film, fashion, entertainment and media industries. She elevates and casts light on untapped talent in South Africa and ardently fosters and drives them towards international accolades.

Elsubie’s ethos is to uplift the nation to heights they never deemed possible — to set their hearts on fire for what they are most passionate about and to equip them with the tools necessary to bring their dreams to life. Most recently, Elsubie secured $17.4-million in international scholarships for young aspiring artists.

Elsubie elaborates, “The youth are our future. My aim is to equip, inspire and build a powerful nation of creatives.”

As an empowerment leader, Elsubie is making the dreams of thousands of South Africans a reality. She says, “We might be a third world country, but we have first world potential”.

Elsubie prides herself in youth development and empowering the young. For the past 14 years, Elsubie has travelled throughout the country doing talent identification, development and talent placement. She secured over 3 500 placements in 2021 alone She says, “My hope is to give to others what I never had. It is my God-given purpose.”

A true trailblazer, Elsubie has starred in national films, such as Leon Schuster’s Mr Bones 2, numerous national series, including Binnelanders, Egoli and Scandal, Bollywood Films and more. Elsubie’s wealth of industry knowledge and experience as a professional actress and commercial model yields an environment for up and coming artists to achieve excellence in the launching of their careers. The dedication of her life to the entertainment industry is reflected in the success of hundreds of youngsters who have gone on to build flourishing careers both locally and internationally.