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Trust Khosa
Lifestyle Writer
Have you ever considered acquiring acceptable social behaviour and norms that govern interactions between individuals in various contexts?
Have you received training on how people should act in social, professional and formal situations?
Do you know how to behave in public, both as a leader and as a subordinate?
These skills can only be attained through confidence coaching, grooming and etiquette, which help to shape good character and instil discipline.
Although etiquette varies widely by culture, setting and occasion, experts value it for instilling elements that facilitate respectful and harmonious interactions among individuals.
Many people in both powerful and low positions need grooming and etiquette coaching.
In Harare, Molly Chuma, better known as Coach Molly, has made a significant impact in this area.
She is undoubtedly the most sought-after lady for grooming and etiquette and is the answer for those with low self-esteem who are eager to learn.
Coach Molly teaches essential grooming skills, such as politeness, respect and wearing appropriate clothing for specific occasions.
She has also boosted the confidence of those with low self-esteem by instilling proper communication skills.
Coach Molly pays close attention to dining etiquette, emphasising the importance of following proper table manners during meals.
She also teaches her clients the need to embrace powerful communication skills, including tone, body language and active listening.
In her own words, grooming runs in her blood.
Grooming has helped her become a multitasker in various fields, including being an English teacher, content creator, church pastor and makeup artist.
She has presided over 100 wedding receptions as a makeup artist and director, making her one of Zimbabwe’s most hardworking ladies in events management and planning.
Her fairy tale came to the spotlight in the last two years after the floodgates of success opened.
In an interview with The Herald on Saturday Lifestyle, the mother of two remarked that she considers herself a “rare” and “blessed” woman.
She believes she is following her heart and God’s guidance in this area of grooming, confidence-building and etiquette.
“To start with, I can safely say I am a confidence, grooming and etiquette coach, makeup artist, English teacher, and then a pastor,” stressed this multitasking lady.
“I will be turning 39 in March this year, and I am a mother of two.
“I also provide image consultancy services, which contributes to my coaching work. I am a pastor by being married to one (Pastor Mufudzi Chuma) and am also an active member of the UFIC Church (United Family International Church) under Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa.”
With a busy and demanding schedule on her shoulders, Coach Molly has devised ways to strike a balance in her work.
“I am usually busy on weekends when I am doing bridal sequences and makeup. I sometimes start my work at 2 am, and by 8 am I will be done because the brides should be all prepared before the event. It’s a routine that I am not used to, and time management has helped me execute my job.
“On Sundays, I will be at church from 9 am to 1pm. At church, I am the first to arrive and the last to leave because I am a pastor who is required to attend to people,” she explained.
The confidence coach, who runs MC School of Etiquette in Harare, has also designed a flexible timetable to cater to individuals and classes.
“I do hold children’s classes mid-week as well as sessions for adults, especially those from corporate backgrounds.
“We are open to teaching newly promoted employees how they should carry themselves in public.
“Sometimes, good educational qualifications are not enough without proper grooming, which then shapes people’s conduct and relationships with others,” she said.
In her spare time, she has become a regular panellist on Capitalk Radio under Zimpapers Group, which airs programmes on grooming.
“Sometimes I am invited to Capitalk Radio to speak about these issues of grooming and etiquette. It’s something that I enjoy the most because I get to interact with listeners who are eager to learn more about grooming.
“The initiative (Capitalk programmes) has also managed to raise the appeal of the brand Coach Molly Chuma since I get a chance to share some tips freely on a bigger platform,” she remarked.
As a makeup artist, she draws inspiration from internationally-acclaimed beautician Jacque Mgido, who has worked with Hollywood stars like Snoop Dogg, R&B singer John Legend, actor and singer Jamie Foxx, and movie star Sylvester Stallone.
“I will be blunt on this one: Jacque Mgido is my role model. She has put Zimbabwe on the international stage, which is also my vision as a makeup artist.
“I am planning a one-stop-shop in Harare offering beauty products, grooming and all that I have mentioned,” she explained.
As a pastor, Coach Molly saluted Ruth Makandiwa as a perfect example of commitment to God’s ministry.
“The person I would mention as a mentor is no doubt Ruth Makandiwa, not because we attend the same church, but because I am close to her and I always meet her at church. I would like to emulate her and continue serving the Lord,” she noted.
While Coach Molly noted that God has blessed her beyond measure, she also revealed that she has received grooming lessons from professionals.
“In 2023, I was enrolled at Allion Jefferson Academy, where I was taught everything about grooming for half a year.
“It was quite an amazing experience because I can implement some of the things that I have learned. However, God has always used me to help others with confidence building for years, but I only perfected it at the academy,” recalled Coach Molly.
With this list of mentors, Coach Molly is learning from the best and is determined to succeed.
In her short journey as a multitasker, she described 2024 as one of her most successful years in living memory.
Last year, she attended two major conferences in South Africa as a grooming and etiquette expert.
In August last year, she was among the panellists at the Women’s Talk Conference powered by Victorious Women and UFIC.
She met some of the best minds in confidence building, including sexual health specialist and family practitioner Dr Nkosilathi Shabalala, psychosocial support and community health expert Nomzano Zikalala, and Zola Shabangu, founder of iGoda Incubator & Instika WIB chairperson, among other grooming experts.
Before the South African visit, she was among the speakers at the Audacious Queen Summit 2024 held on July 27 in Harare.
Coach Molly was among the speakers hosted by Melody Chipo Makuvaza. Securico founder and managing director Dr Divine Ndlukula, Farai Mpofu (Investor Education Director, Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe), and Chido Mzondo, a certified talent practitioner and career advisor, spoke at the event.
After rubbing shoulders and sharing her wisdom with some of the sub-region’s finest motivators and hardworking women, Coach Molly is destined for the stars.
Her fairy tale, written in bold letters, is that of a multitasking woman who has a hunger for whatever she touches.
Coach Molly’s passion for boosting people’s confidence, creating memories, and winning the hearts of both the young and old in grooming is hard to ignore.
She is a big dreamer who is ready to touch many lives as a confidence, grooming, and etiquette coach.
Raised in Harare in a God-fearing family, Coach Molly’s calling was clear from the onset: she would serve her nation with pride.
Coach Molly is married to Mufudzi Chuma.
The couple is blessed with two boys aged 17 and 13 years, respectively.
Online Reporter