Zana ‘Kay urges women to prioritise skill over illusion of success

WOMEN’S Month has prompted award‑winning Zimbabwean fashion designer and architect Nomakhosazana Khanyile Ncube — known as Zana ‘Kay — to urge women to focus on mastering their craft rather than chasing the illusion of success.

In a candid TikTok video, Zana ‘Kay stripped away the glamour often associated with achievement. Wearing Crocs, overalls and a paint-stained T-shirt while filming herself at work, she offered an unfiltered look behind the scenes, challenging the growing culture of curated perfection on social media.

“I’m not a walking Pinterest board of boss energy. There’s a specific aesthetic being sold to women. Red manicured nails on a Tuesday, a posh vehicle with white leather interior, 9AM soft glam coffee meetings, and back-to-back seminars in an aesthetic networking event.

“The true craftsmanship is not measured by how many emails you send or how posh you look, it is measured by the work, the hours, the revisions, the finished piece, especially when the industries that we’re entering had a 100-year head start, uninterrupted flow of capital, infrastructure, and legacy networks. Somewhere along the way, the aesthetics of success began to replace the actual substance of success,” she said.

Zana ‘Kay, who was among the first cohort of fashion designers to be honoured by the National Arts Merit Awards this year, said appearance should never be mistaken for ability or genuine accomplishment.

“Looking powerful is not the same as being powerful, looking booked is not the same as being skilled, and looking wealthy is not the same as building wealth.

“The performance has become louder than the practice. I don’t owe anyone performance; I owe my craft consistency. Stop trying to look like a boss and start becoming one,” she said.

Her message, shared at a moment when the world reflects on women’s achievements and challenges, speaks directly to the pressure many women face to project a polished image of success rather than investing in the often unseen, demanding work required to build lasting careers. Through her honesty,

Zana ‘Kay has reminded women that true empowerment lies not in aesthetics, but in discipline, growth and authenticity.