From being a sports writer and editor at The Daily Voice newspaper to being one of the most sought-after presenters in the country, Julia Stuart is fast-becoming a household name in the world of football.
She is not only a beauty but has the brains to back it all up with a degree in film and media from the University of Cape Town as well as honours in media theory.
Stuart, affectionately known as Jules, started out in print media, was trained at Independent Newspaper headquarters in Ireland, and was the former sports editor of The Daily Voice newspaper at the age of 22, becoming the first female sports editor in the country.
After seven years with the newspaper, she took a different route and accepted a job as a sports presenter at eNews Channel Africa.
She admitted that the transition from print to broadcasting was a challenge. “It is intimidating being in front of a camera, and when I watch those first few tapes of mine from eNCA, It’s hard to watch yourself on TV.
“It was such a big risk because I took a big pay-cut, but I just thought it’s time to move and challenge myself. I had been at the newspaper for so long.”
Julia Stuart with former France National Football Team’s captain, Marcel Desailly.
Despite football being a male-dominated sport, Stuart praised the female sports presenters that came before her for laying the groundwork for the next generation. “Now there are more female presenters in sports than ever before. The females who were before us did a really good job in paving a way for us.”
Having joined SuperSport just over a year ago, Stuart now has made massive strides at the inter-continental broadcaster and she is not done yet.
Being one of the many voices on Super Sport Blitz, she also is seen around the country during local football matches providing on-field interviews before and after matches and recently joined the Monday Night Football team discussing all things Barclays Premier League.
At the Soweto Derby is Julia Stuart with South African football legends Lucas Radebe and Stanton Fredericks.
A huge Asernal fan, Stuart was born in Mitchells Plain on the Cape Flats outside Cape Town and is now a Sandton resident.
The Supersport presenter recently visited France to cover the European Football Championship showpiece in the TV show French Connection.
As the demand for female personalities in sport continues to grow, Stuart has encouraged young women interested in becoming sports presenters to be prepared to work because a pretty face will only get them so far. “Rejection is part of the job, get used to it and don’t stop knocking on those doors,” she advised.
