South African television host and travel storyteller Zahirah Variawa has earned international recognition with a Daytime Emmy® Award nomination for her work on The Lovely Lemurs of Madagascar, an Pets.TV special produced by Allen Media Group.
The nomination, announced by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), places the programme in the Outstanding Travel and Adventure Program category at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards. It is also the first Daytime Emmy® nomination for Allen Media Group’s Pets.TV network.
Hosted by Variawa, the Madagascar special takes viewers into one of the world’s most biodiverse destinations, exploring its distinctive wildlife, landscapes and conservation efforts. Directed and produced by Lisa-Renée Ramirez, the programme combines immersive travel storytelling with cinematic visuals to introduce international audiences to Madagascar’s natural and cultural richness.
Putting African storytelling on the global stage
For Variawa, the nomination is a significant milestone in a career spanning television presenting, destination marketing and tourism storytelling.
The recognition also highlights the growing international reach of South African talent, as well as the potential of cross-continental collaborations to bring African stories to global audiences. The programme brought together a South African camera crew and creative team with Allen Media Group’s US-based production team.
“Madagascar is one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations – wild, authentic and unlike anywhere else on earth,” says Variawa. “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.”
She says the nomination is also a reflection of the wider team behind the production.
“This nomination means so much because it isn’t just my achievement – it’s the achievement of an extraordinary team,” she says. “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.”
A celebration of travel and conservation
At the heart of The Lovely Lemurs of Madagascar is a journey through a destination known for its extraordinary biodiversity. The programme uses travel and adventure storytelling to showcase Madagascar’s wildlife while highlighting the importance of conservation.
For Variawa, the nomination is an opportunity to draw further attention to both Madagascar and the calibre of African storytelling.
“I hope this nomination shines a light not only on this beautiful destination, but on the calibre of storytelling emerging from Africa,” she says.
The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy® Awards are scheduled to take place on 30 October 2026 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, where winners will be announced across the daytime television categories.
