Model on depression, alcohol and mbanje abuse

Danisa Masuku

Leanet Chengetai Mupungu knows the dark side of social media. When she tried her hand at modelling back in her teenage life, she was bullied and branded a skinny and tall girl.
Mupungu, who hails from Makokoba suburb in Bulawayo revealed that she had a keen interest in modelling from a tender age and once participated in a photo shoot in the city. But she never knew that after that her world would be plunged into depression.
“I was 17 years old when I went for a photo shoot. After that, my pictures were posted on social media. I was bombarded with nasty comments. Some social media trolls questioned why I wanted to venture into modelling when I was skinny and tall. They stated that I was wasting my time. The comments weighed heavily on me and left me shattered,” said the now 23-year-old model.
Leanet, who is a former Miss African Culture, said after that her confidence dropped and she felt life was meaningless. While she was in that trap, she cast a lone figure and found solace in drugs and alcohol.
“I needed something to escape from depression and I had to indulge in booze and mbanje. I did not mind about the consequences, what I wanted was a quick fix to be happy,” she said.
During that period, she avoided social media platforms and stopped pursuing her dream.
“I did not want to hear or read anything, be it from my Facebook Timeline or Instagram because I did not want my soul to be tormented,” she added.
However, thanks to her supportive family, she has escaped from the bondage of depression.
“My aunt and my sister noticed that something was wrong with me and they sat me down. After that, I opened up to them. Thereafter, my aunt asked me whether I wanted to pursue a career in modelling. At first, I was hesitant because of my previous nasty experience but she convinced me otherwise,” she said.
Her aunt assigned her to a modelling coach and that marked the turning point in her life.
“My aunt introduced me to a modelling coach who took me through counselling sessions. During that time my former pastor Reverend Ayibongwe Hlongwane was also at hand helping me with counselling sessions and I finally overcame the depression. After that, I stopped taking alcohol and drugs. I then focused on my career and in 2022 I participated in Miss African Culture and was crowned the winner,” she said.