August 2008 Style Star: Uyanda Mbuli

Uyanda Mbuli
has loved high-end fashion since she was a little girl, so it’s no surprise
that she embodies effortless style and is often a red carpet feature at many
top social events, both here and internationally. This vibrant woman has forged
a successful career as a businesswoman, actress, and TV personality, while
rubbing shoulders with the cream of society.

This feisty
go-getter, the first black woman to win Mrs Globe South Africa, has
singlehandedly built her personal brand, and much of her inspiration came from
going to Hollywood and seeing how the professionals did it; how the stars built
and managed their brands. She admits it was a life changing experience which
opened her eyes to many opportunities.

This
inspired Uyanda to launch the Diamond Face Couture label, which will be showing
Sanlam SA Fashion Week. She is also Deputy Chairperson of Gauteng Film
Commission, she sits on the TARA Hospital Board, and she is also the Managing
Director of Agenda Communications.

Uyanda
describes her personal style as elegant and refined, yet unpredictable. She
admires how Victoria Beckham, Rihanna, and Kimora Simmons approach fashion.
Uyanda is not big on jewellery and prefers to use her hairstyles and nail
colour as accessories.

Internationally,
she enjoys shopping in Dubai, New
York and Hong Kong. Locally, she shops
in Sandton and Rosebank.

Uyanda’s
favourite spectator sports are golf and horse racing. And she keeps fit by
doing Yoga, among other interesting fitness routines.

Introducing
gsport’s August 2008 Style Star, super savvy, Uyanda Mbuli!

Uyanda, you’re a businesswoman, actress and TV
personality, how do you juggle these roles and still remain so glamorous? I’ve always loved high-end fashion
since I was a little girl and I’ve carried that love with me through out my
life. So, it now comes natural to me – I treat everyday as a special day &
every event as a special event. I just love and enjoy dressing up.

Please details your various current career projects
and what you enjoy most about them? Gert & I are currently busy with the summer collection
of our clothing label Diamond Face Couture which will be showing at Sanlam SA
Fashion Week. I’m the Deputy Chairperson of Gauteng Film Commission, I sit on
the TARA Hospital Board, I’m the Managing Director of Agenda Communications,
I’m currently shooting the second season of African Giants & I’m a wife and
mother.

How big a role did being publicity manager for SABC
1 play in shaping your career? The fact that it happened after I was the first black woman
to win Mrs. Globe South Africa definitely
brought my position under the spotlight. It wasn’t easy to do all that at the
same time, but it gave me the platform to build my brand as ‘Uyanda Mbuli’ and
brought with it so many other opportunities.

You’ve partied with some of Hollywood’s A-list celebrities. Tell us about
some of the highlights? I’ve always enjoyed my social life and took it a step further when I
went to Hollywood.
I really enjoyed myself and it exposed me to the fashion world at large and
that’s where I realized I wanted to own and design for my fashion label. I also
realized how the international stars where building & managing their brands
– it was one of those life changing experiences!

You’re also co-owner of Diamond Face Couture which
will show at the Sanlam SA Fashion Week in August. You must be delighted with
how this fashion label is taking off?

DFC is a
lifestyle brand that epitomizes glamour & style. The clothing label is for
young (and young at heart) woman who are laid back but yet sophisticated and
extremely trendy. And we are excited about how it has been received in the
local fashion community! We’ve already dressed Miss SA Tansey Coetzee,
Presenter of Live Bonang & Award Winning Musicians Lira and Siphokazi.

What are some of the social responsibility projects
you’re involved in?
Just recently I joined the march against Xenophobia & I’ve been working a
number of charities around the country both in my personal capacity and as an
ambassador for the LG shine phone.

You won Mrs. South Africa
Globe in 2005/06. What did this mean to you? Being the first black married women to take the
crown meant I had opened a door for others to follow in my foot steps and I was
part of a generation of married women who wanted to balance their private and
business life by challenging the stereo types.

How do you deal with life in the public eye, the
good and the bad? It
took time, but I’ve learned to roll with the punches. When you decide to grow,
learn and advance under the spotlight it does put you under a lot of media
scrutiny which I knew very well it might happen when I decided to build myself
into a brand.

What have been some of your biggest career
highlights to date?

Starting Diamond
Face Couture and being appointed into the boards of the Gauteng Film & TATA
Hospital.

How do you deal with challenges that come your way?

I have made
God part of my journey and through that I’ve realized that with every challenge
comes an opportunity and the trick is to see the opportunities and pursue them
when challenges come along.

What is the best career advice you’ve received?

Life has
unlimited opportunities which allows us to grow, to learn, to empower, to be
empowered along the way and never to box ourselves in one career field. I
learned that everything can still be done within our lifetime.

What five words best describe you?

Stylish,
educated, warm, loving & ambitious.

How would you define your personal style and how has
it evolved over the years?

I’ve always
defined my personal style as elegant and refined yet unpredictable.

Where do you enjoy shopping for clothing?

Internationally
I enjoy shopping in Dubai, New
York & Hong Kong. Locally I
shop in Sandton & Rosebank.

Who are your style icons and why?

I like the
way Victoria Beckham, Rihanna & Kimora Simmons approach fashion at large –
they do not follow trends they set them.

What is always in your handbag?

My wallet
with all my cards including drivers license, my cellphone, soft tissues, lips gloss.

Do you have a beauty routine?

Yes, I cleanse,
tone & moisturize.

What are your favourite accessories?

I actually
wear jewellery in moderation; I use my hairstyles and nail colour as
accessories.

What is your favourite spectator sport?

Golf &
Horse racing.

Who is your favourite sports star?

I have three:
– David Beckham, Bryan Habana & Tiger Woods.

 How do
you keep fit?

I do Yoga
& Billy Blanks’ Taeboo.

gsport strives to celebrate femininity. What role does it play in your life?

I celebrate
my femininity in the way that I carry myself and the way I dress. I’m such a
girls’ girl!

Who are your role models?

My mother, I
have witnessed her single-handedly raise my four siblings and I to become
independent and strong individuals, while running her own business on the side.
I don’t know how she did it, but I admire her for doing it with so much love
and passion.

What inspires you?

My love for
life, family and business – it’s what makes me wake up every morning and look
forward to each day.

What is your greatest ambition?

Being the
best mother, wife and businesswoman I could ever be.