Lecture halls, pools, racetracks, TV screens – young South Africans are making their mark, everywhere!  

On the world stage: Masali Baduza 

With her onscreen grace and charming looks, Masali has captured the hearts of Bridgerton fans around the world. She’s stepped into the role of Michaela Stirling on Season 4 of this Netflix hit – a character she describes as “well-travelled, well-read and the life of the party”. Masali, who was born in East London, won a scholarship to study at the New York Film Academy (LA campus), then returned to SA’s stages. Her big break came in 2020 as the lead in BBC’s sci-fi TV drama Noughts + Crosses, followed by a role in the 2022 movie The Woman King before Bridgerton called. Her story is one of reaching for your dreams beyond familiar borders, encouraging young South Africans to not only believe in themselves, but to never doubt how far they can go – no matter how distant their dream may seem.  

@netflixsaThe more I learn about Masali Baduza, the more obsessed I become😍♬ original sound – Netflix South Africa

Global plates to local hearts: Carla Schulze 

Determined to bring the heat in the global culinary world, executive chef Carla Schulze has been named the 2026 Luxe Restaurant Awards Chef of the Year. While she was “hardly the star student” during her school years in Joburg, she found her feet in the kitchen. Carla graduated in 2016 as the top student at the Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine in KZN, going on to be mentored by world-renowned chef Luke Dale Roberts, who chose her in 2023 to head up his Cape Town fine-dining restaurant, Salon. At the age of 30, she leads a technically demanding kitchen and a team who are given the space to “mess up, ask questions and learn without fear”. Carla reminds us that passion, self-belief and hard work will always make room for you at the table.  

Dissertations in rhyme: Kitso Seti 

Dedicated to shedding light on a “new and true humanity”, Kitso is making waves in the music landscape through a blend of multi-disciplinary talent, academia (he has a Masters in Politics) and raw, poetic voice. Hailing from Khayelitsha, he channels the pulse of the townships into music and spoken-word poetry that engages with political theory, unpacking the evolving meaning of Black Consciousness and post-apartheid identity. As one of the leading proponents of Cape Town genre ‘spaza hip-hop’, Kitso uses his platform to conscientise audiences. Whether he’s behind the mic, directing a theatre production or lecturing at the University of Cape Town and Rhodes, he is living proof of multi-disciplinary excellence; that there’s no reason to limit yourself and that you can do it all. 

From Witsie to World Changer: Dr Brad Segal 

Reimagining rigid career paths and combining them, Bradley ‘Max’ Segal is the talk of the town this Youth Month. In his late 20s, he’s a medical doctor, biomedical engineer, software engineer and data scientist! Dr Brad has merged the fields to create the perfect convergence of academic excellence that sets him apart and makes him the face of STEM in South Africa. It’s not only his accolades that do the talking but his approach to his work, rooted in empathy, accessibility and equity. Pushing his different roles all at once, he is transforming the game with intellect and determination at Oxford University’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering, focusing on AI and clinical health-informatics research. Dr Brad is living proof that your potential truly lies in your ability to fetch your life – not one, but all of them. 

In the driver’s seat: Liyema Letlaka 

At just 23 years old, Liyema proves that you don’t need years of experience to reshape culture and break into gate-kept industries. As the Acting CEO of the Southern African Endurance Series (SAES), she is the youngest person and first black woman to lead a motorsport series in the country – and proof that this generation is not waiting for the future, but building it. A competitive racer from the age of nine, a bad crash ended her driving career early. Rather than walking away from the sport, this trailblazer shifted gears to the business side, reinventing both herself and a sector seen as elitist. “Success is making space for people who look like me.” For anyone contemplating a career pivot, let her story be your inspiration. 

Diving into purpose: Kaylene Corbett 

Breaststroke specialist and frequent podium finisher, Kaylene is setting the standard for the next generation of South African sports stars. The Bloemfontein-born swimmer is the training partner of Olympic and world champion Tatjana Schoenmaker, and rapidly on her way to becoming one herself. From 2016 to now, she’s won medals at the African Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships – next up, the 2028 Olympics… While picking up medals and flying the SA flag high in international competitions, she is also a student at the University of Pretoria, pursuing a degree in education. With the power of persistence, training hard to improve for over a decade, Kaylene is bridging the gap between aspiration and reality. She reminds us that everyone has an ‘Olympic Dream’ – the one thing that matters most to you, and that you never stop striving for. 

@kaylenecorbett It’s more than just what happens in the pool. 🏊🏼‍♀️ The part you don’t see is the effort it takes to get up, stay focused, and choose the hard things when no one’s watching. 👀 Here’s a look at just how normal a Monday morning even when the motivation wasn’t there on this particular morning. 🤧 A few things that help me start my week: • Show up, even if it’s not perfect. • Find one small win before 9am. • ⁠Don’t stay in bed for too long otherwise you won’t get up. Here’s to a Monday that moves you forward, even just a little. 🤍🏊‍♀️✨#poweradepartner ♬ original sound – Kaylene Corbett

Words: Mbali Zangqa 
Photographs: Gallo/Getty images (including background), supplied

Also read: Actor Olly Zondi: From sports to stardom