Since 2012, Bonang Matheba has been one of SA’s most liked television personalities, entertaining the country on SABC 3’s popular lifestyle show Top Billing. Last year, she took a new-found philanthropic approach, launching the Bonang Matheba Bursary Fund, which aims to change the lives of young women across South Africa. Always aiming high, the star recently launched her own emoji app, Bmoji, and published her memoir, From A to B.
Some of Bonang’s career highlights to date include being the global brand ambassador for Revlon, and working on projects alongside haute-couture designer Gert-Johan Coetzee. Bonang’s star shows no signs of dimming. With this phenomenal woman on a global rise, chatting to Bonang was bound to happen. For more on how she stays motivated and lessons learned, look no further.
‘We all have 24 hours in a day, so we have it in us to decide how we want to spend that time. I choose to use it wisely in the different spheres of my career. I am not going to lie and say that it is easy. The beauty about being able to do multiple things at different times is that I have a team behind me who is really supportive. They ensure I am able to be where I need to be at any given time. I put in the hours and dedication so that when I’m able to take a break, I know that I earned it and it’s well deserved.’
‘I think that because I have such an innate love affair and appreciation for fashion, looking after my image is not such a huge stressor, and I also think it may be because I always have like-minded people looking after me and my interests. I am lucky enough to work with some really amazing SA designers and stylists, all of whom are striving towards one thing: excellence. Together, we work towards this goal, making it all the more pleasurable.’
‘The events of the past 13 years of my life have been the cornerstone of how I built up my brand and career. Through my book, From A to B, I’ve been able to capture every moment in its purest form. Heartache and heartbreak, along with all the good moments, love and affection – you name it – everything has been well documented in my book, and it is a pleasure to be able to share my story with fans.’
‘In terms of beauty advice, my philosophy would be to always take care of yourself, whether this is physically, spiritually or mentally. These three areas are key pillars of your well-being and will affect your beauty, both internally and externally. Picking one beauty item that I can’t live without is a difficult choice, as I am obsessed with clothing and make-up, but I’d have to say that it’s my Revlon make-up kit.’
‘I can’t begin to express how much of a dream come true it is to be the face of Revlon. Being named among the likes of Olivia Wilde, Halle Berry and Emma Stone is truly an honour that has allowed me to blossom into the next phase of my career. The partnership with Revlon is growing from strength to strength, and the opportunities that I am getting as a result have been amazing.’
‘Having been in the industry for the past 13 years, I can officially say 2017 is the year that I have started seeing the fruits of my labour, and I am completely enjoying sharing it with everyone. If I had to be honest, though, I would have to say that it’s tough not having enough time in a day to do everything. I work long hours, which sometimes prevents me from spending enough time with loved ones and those closest to me. But, as the saying goes, it is all worth it in the end when you see the results.’
