DESTINY chats to a woman who’s clearly in charge of her life and career. We cover her role as the first African face of Neutrogena, her new production company, growing up in KwaMashu, building her dream home, the importance of telling African stories before jetting off to Hollywood and how the tragic loss of family members changed her path forever.
On the day of the DESTINY cover shoot in Johannesburg, Mbatha was due to film a Neutrogena global campaign in Los Angeles, USA, featuring no less than fellow actresses and beauty brand ambassadors Kerry Washington, Jennifer Garner and Julie Bowen. Despite the prospect of sharing the spotlight with these A-listers, there’s no hint of a prima donna in Mbatha. Her publicist, Pumza Nohashe of Brand 360 Communications, would only say that they were going to make it happen, despite their hectic schedule.
“I created a vision board in January 2015 and the only product I put on it was Neutrogena because I could always identify with the ambassadors they appointed,” she says. “They’re people you want to have cupcakes and tea with.
WATCH: Nomzamo Mbatha talks about succeeding at your passion
“Two days after finishing my vision board, I got a call from my agent saying Neutrogena wanted to chat. I nearly fell off my chair and I cried because I couldn’t believe it. The discussions came and we had meetings and spoke about everything, and they confirmed it was mine. But it took a long time for it to be finally announced publicly. During that quiet time I was filled with doubt. I didn’t think I was worthy of it and felt I wasn’t that established. Being the South African face of Neutrogena solidified my place in the industry.”
The Isibaya actress’s unassuming girl-next-door outlook continues to endear her to millions of fans. It’s also earned her multimillion-rand endorsement deals with other global brands such as Puma and BET (Black Entertainment Television), who have also snapped her up as their ambassador.
With her star continuing to rise on both the small and large screen, being relatable to girls from townships to Johannesburg’s northern suburbs is part of Mbatha’s recipe for success in the fickle entertainment industry, where longevity isn’t guaranteed, despite your level of talent.
The self-confessed workaholic made the astute decision to solidify her business interests by selecting an A-team to build and grow Nomzamo Mbatha – the business – globally. This team includes acclaimed agent Moonyeenn Lee of talent agency MLA as well as leading publicists based in SA and LA to ensure she always projects her best self and remains relevant.
“I don’t see myself as a brand, but as a business,” Mbatha explains. “Coca-Cola is a brand – it looks a certain way and never changes – but the actual business behind the beverage, The Coca-Cola Company, is constantly innovating itself, evolving and adapting to change.
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