Features

From a 11-year-old SA’s Got Talent winner to a storyteller shaping a generation, Botlhale Boikanyo reflects on purpose, poetry and why her greatest success lies in creating space for others to rise.

Fourteen years ago, a wide-eyed, confident 11-year-old girl from Mahikeng stepped onto the stage of SA’s Got Talent and did something no one had seen before. Armed only with her words and a belief bigger than her small frame—far bigger than her years—Botlhale Boikanyo became the first poet to win the reality show in its third season.

For many young South Africans, social media is where dreams are shared. For Naqueeda Dayel, it’s where they’re built.

Popularly known for beauty content and an aspirational lifestyle aesthetic, Naqueeda has cultivated a loyal digital community by showing up consistently and authentically. But behind the polished transitions and trending videos is a young entrepreneur determined to create something that exists beyond the screen.

For Gen Z, influence is no longer measured only by follower counts. It is found in authenticity, vulnerability and the courage to show up as yourself, even when life gets complicated. Few embody that quite like Tefelo Mathabe.

After spending more than a decade dressing South Africa’s biggest names, the celebrity stylist has discovered that fashion’s greatest power lies far beyond the red carpet. Through Save The Dance™, Troy Molaiwa is using style, mentorship and opportunity to help young people step confidently into the future.

Johannesburg-based digital creator, influencer, content strategist, and co-host of the culture-driven podcast Rhythm and Vibes with Kagiso and Hlomani Hlomani Nketani has built a distinct digital presence shaped by lifestyle vlogs, fashion storytelling, and a consistent visual language that feels both curated and lived-in. He stands among a new wave of South African creatives reshaping how culture is documented and shared online.

At just 21 years old, Bradley Nkoana is already sprinting into South African sporting history. The Mabopane-born athlete has emerged as one of the country’s brightest track stars, earning international recognition through his blistering speed, record-breaking performances, and contributions to South Africa’s success on the global stage.

Mikhalé Jones has always been a storyteller. Whether through music, movement, or the quiet moments she captures away from the spotlight, her world is built on emotion, memory, and creative expression. The singer, songwriter, and dancer first captured the attention of South African audiences through her captivating covers and later as the winner of the first season of MTN Pulse Virals. Since then, she has evolved into one of the country’s most exciting contemporary soul artists, blending R&B, neo-soul, jazz, and hip-hop into a sound that is uniquely her own.

Few creators have captured the humour, resilience, and everyday realities of South African youth quite like Titus Mokou. Known to millions as his beloved alter ego, Mologadi, the Limpopo-born digital creator has built a loyal audience through relatable storytelling, sharp wit, and an uncanny ability to turn ordinary moments into cultural touchpoints.

Libhongolethu Geza, popularly known as Libho Geza, is a South African lifestyle creator, athlete and media personality whose presence continues to resonate far beyond the screen. After capturing the nation’s attention as the 2021 winner of Love Island South Africa, Libho has carved out a space defined by authenticity, movement and intention.

With The Living Thread, William De Beer transforms grief, love and legacy into a couture bridal language that feels both intimate and expansive.

For William De Beer, fashion was never just about clothes. It was about feeling. Memory. Obsession, even.