A few years ago former Skeem Saam actress Pearl Maimela Nikolic, who played Sonto and Mapitsi's sister, announced that she had answered her calling and was now an ordained pastor. Although she has been scarce on the small screens, Pearl said she is still very much an actress and is not ready to quit despite her other passions.

CHURCH GIRL

She accepted her calling to become a pastor and has been preaching at the Triumphant Church International, Sandton, while balancing acting. Both her grandparents were pastors and she grew up in the church, so it only made sense. "It was also some of life's challenges that forced me to find myself and answer my calling,' she said. "Losing friends, betrayal, conflicts and many other issues drew me closer to God.'

MOTIVATION

Pearl recently also ventured into motivational speaking and hosted a conference on unlocking the secrets to stronger relationships and families. "I was inspired by the need for open dialogue around relationship empowerment, creating a safe space especially for men to participate in,' she said, adding that, "They need a place to vent and share their experiences in their relationships without judgement,' she added. "Our experts highlighted the importance of communication and vulnerability in relationships, something which helped me to grow spiritually, and accept my calling.'