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Phillipa Mukome Chinhoi Youth Interactive Correspondent
Tafadzwanashe Thabile Nhewa is a 21-year-old make-up artist who is doing wonders in Chitungwiza by doing facial makeup, nails, and hair plaiting for roora day events, bridal showers, other parties, and photo shoots.
Nhewa started doing hair at a very young age, plaiting has always been something that she loved since grade one.
“I was inspired by a woman whom we used to share our house within Zengeza 1. l used to sit and watch while she did her job, I loved it and I started helping her to do the finishing braids until l ended up helping the starting process when l was now in grade 5,” said Nhewa.
Nhewa was raised by her mother, after her father passed away 11 years ago.
She did a diploma in Community Development at Trust Academy and she is graduating this year.
She wants to pursue her first degree in the same programme at the Women’s University. She loves doing social work, hence she is not going to stop her education.
She started earning money at 16 years after completing her O level.
“It was a boring experience sitting at home and waiting for results, I became too anxious and stressed so my mother advised me to practice what l loved most. I started showcasing my work on my WhatsApp profile and status, and people loved it and they started coming home for services. I am multi-skilled, I do the hair, makeup, manicure, and pedicure, “she said.
Through hair plaiting, she has managed to raise money to buy cosmetics, nail dryers, blowers, and other equipment required by her work.
This has led her to establish “Uncover beauty your beauty with Thabelang” a space for those who love beauty where she is training school leavers to use their hands to earn a living.
“Research, determination, and a lot of passion drove me to use technology as her teacher, she has learned a lot about how to do hair, nails, and facial makeup on YouTube, Facebook, and Tik Tok.
She is always on spot with anything that is trending hence she does not miss any new styles.
She started doing roora day make-up in 2020, and since then she does it almost every weekend, because of referrals and connections she now travels to different towns to do makeup.
“I am hoping to buy my car end of this year, it will make it easier for me to travel to different places.”
Nhewa said there is no better feeling in the world than to hear that something you are doing is being appreciated. This has fuelled and driven her to start working on developing her brand of cosmetics ‘Thabelang’ and more innovative products.
“I would like to encourage other girls to use their talents and not depend on anyone, you can go to school while you do some side hustles, it keeps you busy and enables you to do things you wish to have in life. Going to school empowers one, it opens up the mind, and the way one perceives things changes.
“Don’t go to school just because you want to work for someone, go to school so that you can empower, develop yourself, become innovative, and be your employer,” said Nhewa.
“Beauty is a crowded space, but there is space for unique perspectives and individuals in any market, Young girls who would like to enter this industry should tap into that uniqueness and stay true to it and pursue anything they want to do.”
Online Reporter