Former TPF Principal Hellen Mtawali Reveals 7-Year Diabetes Struggle

Renowned voice coach and former principal of the Tusker Project Fame (TPF), Hellen Mtawali has shared her emotional journey living with diabetes, revealing that she was first diagnosed during the show’s fifth season.

Speaking on the Voices at the Edge podcast, Mtawali recounted how the high-pressure environment of the popular music reality show, combined with poor dietary habits, took a serious toll on her health. “When I was doing Tusker Project Fame 5, I was diagnosed with diabetes,” Mtawali said. “I was overworked, and I used to consume a lot of sugar. I drank sodas excessively and kept wondering what was wrong with me.”

She recalled a particularly frightening moment when fellow TPF voice coach Kavutha Mwanzia noticed her eyes were bloodshot. She was also suffering from high blood pressure and persistent headaches. “Just as I stepped out of the door, I collapsed,” she revealed. She was taken to the nearest hospital and medics informed her that she had both high blood pressure and diabetes. “That was seven years ago. I’ve since learned how to live with the condition.”

In the same interview, Mtawali also reflected on how during the first season, they were not allowed to speak about their religion publicly. “But by the time I was leaving, even the staff members were Christians,” she revealed.

She served as a voice coach for the first and second seasons of TPF. After Achieng Oburu departed following the third season, Mtawali stepped in as the academy principal, becoming one of the most recognisable figures in the show’s history.