sandi - apple apartments

7/25/2019 Sandi - Apple Apartments

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36 dreamingless magazine issue 23 the SPORTS LUX

We chat to the Goggle Box star Sandi Bogle.She may be known for sitting in front the

television but theres a lot more to Sandi thanmeets the eye.

Words - Lucinda KingPhotography - Zo Michelle

MUA - Grace Sinnott

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There are hugs all round as we all manage to nd each other after our complcommutes. Sandi has arrived an hour early and has already explored the area. She cbe spotted easily sitting in the caf window as she is wearing an orange patterned juwhich is vintage, along with her long shiny black hair with red ombre tips.

Our shoot takes place in Limehouse, East London, which is an area of Londonnone of us had even heard of before let alone been too. After meeting in the caf weto our rst location. The Apple Apartments Limehouse on Commercial Road. Make yat home, Sandi jokes as we have a nose through each room. Were impressed with bright the apartment is considering the Limehouse area itself is fairly commercialised streets are home to dark brick buildings. A large array of make up is scattered across the table. Oh look shes got myours! Sandi is clearly excited as she sits down to have her make up done. Sandi is exfriendly and her personality no different t o when we watch her on the television. Weto chat like weve known each other for a long time and t heres always something to about. We joke about how people are always spelling our names wrong as they botha I not a Y.

Most people will know Sandi from the BAFTA award winning Channel 4 realitGogglebox where she watches television with her best friend Sandra. The show has bour screens since 2013 and is now in its seventh series. As well as ve other families (ing Steph & Dom and The Siddiquis) Sandi and Sandra have been on the show since beginning. The two fabulous ladies were discovered for the show on a normal outing pub. Yeah well were the loudest, she joshes and the rest is history. Gogglebox hasmany awards including a BPG, NTA and a BAFTA all for best factual programme. Didever think the show would be as successful as its become when she rst started? I dothink anybody did. Nobody expects anything to happen on a big scale. The last seriover 4 millions viewers so its safe to say it is a big hit! Once somebody tells you abo

and they watch it the once, thats it. It s over for them. Cause they become addicted.thing we are all guilty of!

Gogglebox is a show surrounded by television but the main focus is about thelies. Theres at least somebody in one of the families t hat you can relate to. Anyonewatches the show will have their favourite families and individuals but Sandi reveals teven though she doesnt get to watch t he show all the time, there are no favourites wWhats surprising is t hat even though Sandi has been on the show for 3 years she hamet with any of the other families on the show! Changes all the concept of it being Gbox. Then it wouldnt be the same really. A big selling point of Gogglebox is that thelies are from different parts of t he country so it would probably be quite difcult for thto meet with each other. Although while she was congratulating winners of the Londothon a month prior she did nearly bump into Baasit Siddiqui as he crossed the nish l

With seven series of the show behind her I ask if there are any favourite momhad whilst sitting on the sofa with her best friend. The mouse and bat. referring to w

there was a mouse in the house and when Sandra electrocuted herself on the electric swat. And me riding the horse in Grand National, she adds. An event which gets afamilies excited and has become a reoccurring showing in the Gogglebox calendar. getting tweets on that!Within our discussions of Gogglebox and television Sandi methat Gogglebox now has an app. A game you can play which features the families. of cool. My daughters got really high [level] on it. And we say all our little slang wo

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get me babes. Liberty!

As well as being known for their catchphrases and hilarious moments on Goggleboxboth Sandra and Sandi are known for their colourfu l dress sense. As well as her jumpsuit San-di is wearing an array of large bejazzled rings which tell a story all by themselves. I lovefashion. A point that is made evident when Sandi receives a phone call from a friend ask-ing if she wants a particular dress. A black and white bodycon dress that Sandi said yes tostraight away. Really nice friends of mine think of me when they go shopping and they sendme [photos of] different outts. We discussed different shops where we get our clothes frombut Sandi had one denitive answer. My friend owns her own boutique. Catch 22. FinsburyPark. Thats where I go for all my clothes. She looks after me, Dina, such a lovely lady. Ivebeen going to her for years and she gets me my beautiful gowns if I go to awards or if Ive

got an event she looks after me. Sandi said that even though shes had others come to herand ask her to wear their clot hes she will always have loyalty to her friend. She knows whatto put on me! Any pictures t hat you see out there, the dresses I wear are through her most ofthe time. If its a small venue I just put something of my own. But I mean if its a bigger eventshe does do it for me.If you wanted to see images of Sandis attire at events shes been tothen there would be plenty to choose from. She has been seen at a wide range of awardceremonies, charity events and lm premiers which keep her busy in between watching TV forour entertainment. I do t he Screen Nations every year and the Black Beauty awards cere-mony. I presented it year before last. Ive seen the premiers of The Thief with Charles Vennand A.W.O.L with Fredi Kruga.

Sandi is also a serious theatre goer and spends a lot of the time in Londons WestEnd. Ive been to Thriller 10 times, my godson used play Michael Jackson. He has sincegrown out of the role but t he show is still one of Sandis favourites. As were talking abouttheatre she decided that she will go and see Les Mi srables later that evening. Shes is also afan of the musical Motown and she managed to coincidently bump into one of the stars from

the show. I was on my way to see Motown but I ended up going to this event and I met t hestar of Motown! I didnt know he was in it and he didnt know that I got tickets. His name isCharl Brown and he won a Tony Award. Hes really big! He said I had a kind heart. I wasmeant to meet him that day! When going to such prestigious events and awards a lot of shoulder rubbing withcelebrities must take place. I ask Sandi who shes met. Simon Cowell, yeah whatever we seehim all the time. She laughs. His brothers really nice as well and his brothers wife. Sandistruggles to think of names. Ive met so many lovely people! Bob Geldof was very nice, hada lovely conversation with him. Ant and Dec! Everybody is so nice. I think because weresuch happy people, if they are, theyll come forward. I imagine that anyone who bumps intoSandi would always have a smile on their face. As were talking Sandi phone buzzes. Courtney the Actor she says before pickingup the phone. The two are discussing the premier t hat Sandi is attending at the weekend forthe lm Antwerp Dolls. (One of the stars of the lm being Cour tney Winston.) They appearto be discussing transport to the event and dress code. Sandi cheekily asks Your next moviebabe can I be in it? Followed by her infectious laugh. After lots of darlings and sending her

love she puts down the phone. Hollywood calling she jokes. Phone calls with known actorsmust be one of the perks of the job Youre getting the ot her side of Sandi Bogle, she says,proving that she doesnt sit and watch TV all day.

Whilst on the phone Sandi asked Courtney if he heard her singing. It turns out thatSandi has a strong desire for singing t hat she feels really passionate about. I love singing

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MEKX PHOTOGRAPHYI just love it, its just in my blood. Sandi performs at clubs and events all over the coI do a lot of gay clubs. I normally go to Manchester, Birmingham, Brighton, I do a lThornton Heath. She also asks her fans on social media if there is any karaoke locato where she is at the time and shell go. Wherever I hear music, Il l be there! Evenchat Sandi occasionally break out into song. I just didnt take it serious when I was ybecause I wasnt allowed to, education came rst. Even though Sandi wasnt able toher singing dreams in her c hildhood she has recently recorded a song in her fri endsHer reggae cover of Karyn Whites Superwoman has now reached over six thousand Sandi has been singing since the age of three. She even had the opportunity the Blackpool Tower. I ask Sandi if she wishes she had continued her singing dreams was younger. No. Because I dont think I would have made it so far as I am now. I most pr

would have end up doing something completely different. It might not have been as ethink everything is for a reason Its clear there is a spiritual side to Sandi. She says, Your destiny is already pI think wherever it takes you, thats where you are suppose to. I thank God everydayGod! Hes got me through a lot.

With the makeup complete Sandi is wearing an elegant cat eye with winged la nude lip. She has also fashioned her long hair into a bun that draws all the attentiowhat shes wearing. As the shoot commences Sandi is a natural and loving her time wcamera. You can tell she is enjoying herself but is taking the job at hand seriously. Wcame across whist talking to Sandi is how important this shoot is to her. This is what do. I want people to know me as well as other stuff I do, not that I just sit on a sofa. The apartment offers plenty of opportunity to take photos resulting in wondershots. Im normally used to the catwalk. She jokes. This isnt Sandis rst time modehas taken to the catwalk for Models Of Diversitys fashion show. An organisation thacourages people from all walks of life to love themselves. Sandis contribution to help

doesnt stop there. She is also involved in lots charity work. Im an ambassador forBonded Thru Cancer, a cause close to her heart especially as her mum passed awacancer. A week prior Sandi played in a Charity football match for Celeb FC. An orgation that helps raise money for charities by arranging football matches between celebBabes! I sprained my ankle. she jests, I did tackle one of the women who organisevent. She got me back, she came af ter me and I fell over and sprained my ankle. W3:0 and we done the candy dance for t he victory dance

As well as these wonderful causes Sandi spent last Christmas Day, along withand her daughters, at an old peoples home. We took them some presents and spenwhole Christmas weekend there with them. Sandi used to work at the old peoples hpeople with dementia. Its nice because most of my friends are still back in there. You get to catch uthey watch me. Plus going back to a lot of community centres, visiting old people homing the bingo with them. Its a nice thing. She also goes back to the school where she taught for 4 years in Bristol. Shgets the chance t o see past students who all watch her on Gogglebox. Theyre abou20s now and theyre all grown! They may now all be adult but t hey still call Sandi M Sandi mentions that these were her favourite places to work but it turns out shdone a wide range of different jobs throughout her life. My rst ever job was working in Harrods. Then I opened up my rst Antique

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SANDI GOGGLEBOX


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Hackney. I sold it because I opened up a barbers and hair salon in Brixton. Gave that tomy sister. Then I opened up a car show room, with my partner. A lollypop lady and a din-ner lady. God Ive done it all babes! Which is most cer tainly the case! The phrase beenthere, done that certainly comes to mind!

Its difcult to imagine that a week previously Sandi was covered in mud on a foot-ball pitch. Especially as she looks so elegant in her outt. The vintage look that Sandi isgoing for is fully showcased by the plain white canvas the bedroom offers. Some great im-ages are taken but as its a nice warm spring afternoon (which makes a change) so goingoutside is the order of the day. So after make up is tidied away and we check everythingis as clean as we found it, we close the door on our two bedroom apartment and headtowards the DRL to a new location. After heading in the wrong direction we end up inCanary Wharf, a very business afuent part of London. Skyscrapers holding headquar-ters to numerous companies tower over us while people in suits hurry past. There are aplethora of photo opportunities in the area including plenty of greenery and t he Thames.Sandi works the camera just as well on location as she did in the apartment and seemedto enjoy herself just as much. While shooting a fan comes up and ask Sandi for a photo. Sandi is more thanhappy to pose for a sele and have a quick chat. I ask her what it s like to be recognised.I think its kind of cool. With her out there taking seles with people everyday, is therea pressure to look good all the time? Nah because now I go out with my leggings, no make up whereas before I wouldwear my rings. They say its not you cause youve got no rings on, but they recognise thevoice. They see the back of me. They wouldnt know until I open my mouth.

By this point we all have a serious hankering for food, so we head to an All BarOne for lunch. We are able to review the photos that have been taken and Sandi isextremely happy with the results. Pub sandwiches and salads are ordered and Sandi tries

to nd a place to charge her phone. Her phone is always buzzing and pinging from callsand notications, whether it be from friends and family or fans on social media. With over16 thousand combined followers on Twitter and Instagram she has a strong fan base whoare very interactive. My fan base want to know who does my make up, where I get my clothes from.What Im singing. It s mental! Social media is a great way for Sandi to be able to talk toher fans. Every morning I send a good morning message to everybody and wish all myfans whose birthday it is a Happy Birthday. Sandi tell us stories about how she has rungup fans to cheer up their day. One including ringing a fan on his Prom day and wishingall him and his school friends a wonderful night. Its all about giving back. Its evidentSandis fan base means a lot to her and she loves what she does. You cant go wrong when you make people happy. You know when you put asmile on people. When you have a stressful day, you watch Gogglebox, you smile. Awonderful attitude to have towards your work.

Our time together has come to end. Sandi is excited to go and see Les Misrables

and goes on to continue the rest of her day. As we part ways to head to our differentstations Sandi stands out for all the right reasons in her orange jumpsuit, as she walks intothe sea of suited business people at Canary Wharf station. During my time with Sandi I have learnt how warm and welcoming she is. She isvery much a people person and loves that her job and just being herself bring joy to ot h-ers. She is more than happy to help people and will do it with a smile on her face.

SANDI GO

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