There was no master plan, no straight road and certainly no guarantee. Chanley Wong shares how embracing uncertainty helped her find a career and a version of herself she never saw coming.
For television presenter Chanley Wong, the journey to the screen has been anything but predictable. The girl from Benoni, who was once shy, unsure of herself and had no idea what career she wanted, is now entering an exciting new chapter with Expresso.
Beyond television, Chanley describes herself as someone who wears her heart on her sleeve, values her family deeply and hopes to leave ‘a little sprinkle of joy and shine’ wherever she goes.
She may be small in stature, but, as she puts it, she is “a little bit of dynamite in a small package full of energy.”
From a shy teenager to television
Growing up in Benoni, Chanley was not the confident public speaker viewers know today. ‘I was actually very shy. Public speaking was definitely not something I did,’ she says.
She dabbled in drama but never landed the lead roles and describes herself as an average student. Her high school years were largely about trying to understand herself and where she fitted in.
They were not her favourite years, although she remains grateful for what they taught her. When it came to choosing a career, she had absolutely no idea what she wanted. During Grade 11 job-shadow week, she followed her sister’s path towards medicine and chose to shadow paramedics. She lasted just two of the seven days.
Looking back, Chanley sees beauty in not having everything figured out. ‘Sometimes the path you never planned for ends up being the one that was meant for you all along.
Finding a place on screen
Before social media, television and radio were Chanley’s main windows into the entertainment industry. She rarely saw people who looked like her in those spaces, which quietly influenced what she believed was possible.
Then she saw an Asian PR representative working with a celebrity and wondered if that could be her way into the industry. It led her to study a BA in Strategic Communications. Even then, she admits she was dreaming too small.
She assumed she would need to work behind the scenes or alongside people on camera because she did not believe there was a place for her in front of it. Today, she is taking up space on the very medium she once thought had no space for her.
‘Hopefully a little Chan somewhere in the world sees me too and I inspire her,’ she shares.
In 2018, Chanley waited 12 hours to audition for Presenter Search on 3. She had little to lose and everything to gain. ‘I had spent so much of my life wondering where I fit in and whether there was even space for someone like me in television,’ she explains.
‘When you want something badly enough, very little can stand in your way.’ She was not selected, but the rejection taught her that not getting an opportunity does not mean she was not good enough. Sometimes, it simply means the right opportunity has not arrived yet. Years later, joining Expresso became a full-circle moment.
‘Setbacks can redirect you rather than define you,’ she says. Now, she allows herself to feel disappointed when things do not work out, but refuses to let rejection stop her from dreaming. ‘What is meant for you may not arrive in the way or at the time you imagined but that doesn’t mean it isn’t coming.
There is no one path to success
Her experience across television, radio and content creation has shown Chanley that success does not follow a single formula. Her own career has been far from linear.
‘Sometimes you just have to be brave enough to take the next opportunity and trust that the dots will eventually connect.’ She encourages young people to give themselves permission to evolve rather than feel pressured to have one fixed plan.
‘It’s okay not to know,’ she says, remembering that she also left school without a clear direction. Her advice is to study something interesting, try different things, say yes to opportunities and allow yourself to change your mind.
‘Sometimes, all you need to know is what the next step is.’ Chanley believes young people should dream while also being realistic. Passion matters, but so do financial security and employment opportunities. ‘I don’t think it has to be an either or decision,’ she says. Her approach is to find something genuinely enjoyable while considering how to build a sustainable life around it. ‘Dream big, absolutely, but give your dreams a plan too.’
She also encourages teenagers to develop strong communication skills, including learning to express themselves, listen and confidently share their ideas. Learning to speak another language is high on her list too – something she wishes she had committed to earlier.
‘In a country as diverse as South Africa, I think it’s such a valuable skill to have.’ Social media can make it seem as though everyone else is achieving more, sooner and more successfully.
Chanley has experienced those feelings herself. ‘Imposter syndrome has knocked on my door one too many times.’ Her reminder is that social media is a highlight reel, not the complete story. Comparing someone’s behind the-scenes life with another person’s best moments will almost always make you feel behind.
‘Everyone’s timeline is different.’ Rather than questioning whether they belong, she encourages young people to remember why they earned their place.
Keeping life grounded
When the cameras are off, Chanley’s ideal downtime includes sleep. Her fast-paced career means rest is precious and she loves returning home to her friends and family, who remind her who she is beyond television and work.
Sometimes quality time means a five-minute drop-by or sleeping over at her sister’s house just to be close to family. ‘It doesn’t always have to be a big plan,’ she says. ‘It’s about making the most of the little moments.’ Viewers may also be surprised to learn that she wears a size 1 shoe from the kiddies’ section. ‘And yes, sometimes I shop in the kids’ section.’
Building her own space
Perhaps her biggest personal lesson has been learning not to wait for permission. ‘If you believe there’s no space for you, build the walls.’
For years, Chanley thought she had to wait for someone to create a space for someone like her. Now she believes in creating that space herself and being brave enough to take it. ‘Don’t wait for permission to become the person you know you can be.’
That mind set has also changed her definition of success. As a younger woman, she associated success with achievement and recognition. Today, it is quieter. ‘Success, to me is having time and peace.’
The unknown awaits
As she begins this new chapter with Expresso, Chanley is excited to grow, challenge herself and discover new sides of her career and personality. Most of all, she is excited about what she cannot predict. ‘I’m excited for the unknown.’
If the shy girl from Benoni who once believed there was no place for her on television could see her now, Chanley believes she would be amazed. She enters this next chapter with ‘an open heart, big dreams and a little less fear of taking up space.
Time with loved ones, time to enjoy the life she has built and the peace of knowing she is where she is supposed to be. ‘Having a full life is more important than simply having a full calendar.’
QUICK-FIRE
Early morning or late night?
Late night.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee.
TV or radio?
TV.
Heels or sneakers?
Sneakers.
Spontaneous or planned?
Planned-out day.
Instagram or TikTok?
Both!
Music or podcasts?
Music.
Heart or head?
Heart
Photo, styling, hair and make-up: CHANLEY WONG. Text: DESNAY PETERSON
