Juggling her passion for digital content creation, beauty, skincare, and wellness, I was honoured to feature alongside twenty-nine-year-old Jo’burg native, Buli Makhubo on the latest Batswadi cover.

I followed Buli on social media this year and loved her page and the relationship she shared with her daughter. I finally met her on set of the cover shoot and instantly fell in love with her personality.

Buli opened up to me on what it means to be a mother in the modern world dominated by the digital age, here’s what she had to say during our interview.

Kutlwano: How did your influencing/content creation journey begin?

Buli: My content creation journey began in 2011 with a blog on a platform called “tumblr”, a space to share my thoughts, outfits, and inspirations. After watching a series called “Fashion Bloggers” in 2014, I was extremely inspired to start creating great content on Instagram. This landed me one of my first huge campaigns with RAGE as their ambassador for a year and a half. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but after 2018 I finally began to find my footing. I’m grateful that my journey has given me an authentic audience, which has seen me grow.

Kutlwano: How has motherhood impacted your influencing journey and the type of brands you agree to collaborate/work with?

Buli: Motherhood has, more than anything, broadened the space I work in. It also made my content more relatable. The brands I work with are brands that almost all mothers use, so it hasn’t impacted me negatively. It has actually opened more doors, dare I say.

Kutlwano: What does being a mother in the digital space look like for you?

Buli: Man, it looks like honesty and vulnerability! For far too long, people who have gone before us made motherhood look like a complete fairytale. It’s an incredible journey, don’t get me wrong. However, it is so refreshing to see moms share the good and the hard times. So, my duty is to simply share my journey truthfully for other mothers to be inspired and for them to relate and learn.

Kutlwano: What are your thoughts about sharing your child on social media?

Buli: I have never had any opposing thoughts about sharing my child on social media. I don’t mind at all. And because I don’t have a culture-centred background, there is honestly nothing wrong with me posting my child. The only thing that I have learnt is that sometimes humans are very weird and love to comment unnecessarily on how my child looks, particularly her skin tone, which, honestly, I don’t get what the fuss is about. But besides that, I will continue to share her because that’s my daughter, and that’s my life.

Kutlwano: What would you say to yourself before you had your baby to prepare for what you are experiencing right now in your motherhood journey?

Buli: I am a realist, so I never romanticised the idea of having a baby. I knew that babies are work! Everything I thought parenting would be is what I’m experiencing. All I would say is to give it your best every day and continue to lean on others for support! That is how I’ve raised my daughter so far. I ask for help when I’m overwhelmed, and I love her honestly and openly. Having a partner is also a huge blessing! Without my husband, I think this journey would have been harder.

Kutlwano: Are you at peace with the content you have produced in the digital space for your child to see one day when they are older?

Buli: Oh definitely! I’m proud of what I create, and I have no doubt that she’ll be proud of me too.