For more than two decades, Melanie Ramjee has been a defining force in South Africa’s public relations and entertainment landscape. The founder and managing director of Tutone Communications, which she established in 2010, Ramjee has built a career spanning PR, events, social media and brand communications, working across entertainment, fashion, sport and lifestyle. Her extensive portfolio has included brands and platforms such as BET, Trace Urban, YFM, the NBA, NFL, Joburg Film Festival, Hey Neighbour and Cotton Fest.

Beyond her work as a publicist and entrepreneur, Ramjee has become known for the relationships she builds with the people and brands she represents. Her career has placed her at the centre of some of South Africa’s biggest cultural moments, while her work with Special Olympics South Africa has also seen her contribute her time, resources and industry connections to the organisation.

But behind the career milestones are the deeply personal experiences that have shaped the woman she is today. For 10 Moments That Changed My Life, Ramjee reflects on taking a leap of faith at 30, building her own business, finding love and motherhood, losing her close friend Riky Rick, navigating divorce and depression, and ultimately finding her way back to herself. It is a story of ambition, love, loss, reinvention and the courage to begin again.

Melanie Ramjee | Supplied

1. Turning 30 and Taking a Leap of Faith

Turning 30 was a huge milestone for me. I felt so old that I hopped on a plane and went to Jamaica alone. The trip made me realise I needed to get serious about my life and my future. I made the brave decision to quit my job and start my own business, my second business venture, which set me on an entirely new path.

2. Starting a Business

I launched my boutique PR agency, Tutone Communications, in 2010 and it completely changed my life. It was the moment I truly stepped into my independence as an entrepreneur and business owner. Building my own company and brand taught me about resilience, responsibility and believing in myself, and following your instinct even when things are sometimes uncertain.

3. Buying My First Home

Purchasing my first house with my partner was a huge milestone. There was something incredibly meaningful about having a home that was ours and seeing a dream become a reality. It represented stability, growth and entering a new chapter of adulthood.

4. Meeting My Soulmate and Gaining a Bonus Child

Meeting my partner and soulmate was another pivotal moment in my life. Not only did I find someone I loved deeply and connected with, but I also gained a bonus child and a whole new dimension to my family. It taught me that family can grow in unexpected and beautiful ways.

5. Birth of My Firstborn Child

Becoming a mother for the first time was one of the most beautiful and cherished moments of my entire life. The birth of my son, Musa, changed me forever and made me feel like my life was complete. Holding my baby boy for the first time was a feeling I could never have prepared myself for, that feeling of 100% pure love.

6. Getting Married

Getting married was incredibly special. It was an intimate celebration surrounded by the people closest to us, our family and dearest friends. It was a beautiful moment of love, commitment and the beginning of what I believed would be a lifelong journey together.

7. Birth of My Daughter

Having my daughter Maya in my 40s was both exciting and very daunting. I was entering motherhood again at a completely different stage of my life, and it reminded me that life doesn’t always follow the timeline you imagine for yourself. Her arrival was an enormous blessing and another life-changing chapter.

Melanie Ramjee | Supplied

8. Losing Riky Rick

Losing my very close friend and a client, the incredibly talented South African musician Riky Rick, was one of the most painful experiences of my life. His death by suicide affected me deeply and caused me to spiral into a very dark period. It changed the way I looked at life, mental health, friendship and the importance of always being present in life. It really is so unpredictable.

9. Divorce

Going through my divorce and being separated from someone I had considered my soulmate and life partner was one of the most difficult periods of my life. I experienced profound sadness and depression, but eventually I came to understand that sometimes letting go is necessary to find yourself again. We had our season and it passed. It taught me that endings can also create space for new beginnings and new paths as we remain best friends.

10. Reinventing Myself

Perhaps the most important chapter has been reinventing myself. During the 18 months following my separation, I felt like I was going mad, I was depressed, I was sad. And then I finally ran out of tears. I woke up one day and I remembered who I was. I signed myself up for LIFE again, returned to the gym and began prioritising my health and wellbeing, and lost over 31 kgs.

More importantly, I started finding ME again. It wasn’t just about changing my body, it was about changing my mindset, rebuilding my confidence and getting back onto a healthy and positive path. It reminded me that it’s never too late to start again, EVER.