South African Television Host Zahirah Variawa Earns Prestigious Daytime Emmy® Nomination for Allen Media Group’s Pets.TV
South African television host, travel storyteller and destination marketing specialist Zahirah Variawa (née Marty) has earned a prestigious Daytime Emmy® Award nomination for her work as host of Allen Media Group’s Pets.TV special, The Lovely Lemurs of Madagascar, bringing international recognition to South African storytelling on one of television’s biggest stages.
The nomination, announced by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), recognises The Lovely Lemurs of Madagascar in the Outstanding Travel and Adventure Program category at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards and marks the first-ever Daytime Emmy® nomination for Allen Media Group’s Pets.TV network.
As the on-screen host of the Emmy®-nominated programme, Variawa joins a select group of South African television personalities to be recognised by one of the world’s most prestigious television awards, further highlighting the growing international impact of South African talent and storytelling.
Hosted by Variawa, the Madagascar special follows a remarkable journey through one of Africa’s most biodiverse destinations, exploring its extraordinary wildlife, landscapes and conservation stories. Directed and produced by Lisa-Renée Ramirez, the programme combines immersive travel journalism with cinematic storytelling, introducing global audiences to one of the continent’s most unique destinations.
A Landmark Moment for South African Travel Television
The nomination adds to the growing international recognition of South African television and filmmaking, following recent success at the International Emmy® Awards and other global platforms. While South African productions have increasingly earned acclaim abroad, a Daytime Emmy® nomination for a travel and adventure programme represents an important moment for the country’s factual entertainment and travel television sector.
The nomination not only recognises Variawa’s work as a presenter, but also celebrates the collaboration between a South African production team and Allen Media Group in the United States—demonstrating the strength of cross-continental storytelling and the growing global influence of African creatives.
For Variawa, whose career spans destination marketing, international television presenting and tourism storytelling, the nomination reflects years of championing African destinations for global audiences.
“To be recognised by the Academy for a project that is so close to my heart is an absolute dream come true,” says Zahirah Variawa. “Madagascar is one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations – wild, authentic and unlike anywhere else on earth. To have the opportunity to tell its story to an international audience, while proudly representing South Africa and the African continent, is an incredible honour. I hope this nomination shines a light not only on this beautiful destination, but on the calibre of storytelling emerging from Africa.”
Reflecting on the collaborative effort behind the programme, Variawa added: “This nomination means so much because it isn’t just my achievement—it’s the achievement of an extraordinary team. We travelled through Madagascar with a talented South African camera crew, telling an African story, while being supported and guided by our incredible team in the United States. To see that collaboration recognised on one of television’s biggest stages makes me incredibly proud. It’s a reminder that world-class storytelling knows no borders.”
The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards will be held on 30 October 2026 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California, where winners will be announced across television’s leading daytime programming categories.
