Behind the Name: Buhle Moletsane

Maya Angelou said it best when she said “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing

it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women”.Who better to embody this attribute than actress, radio DJ and PR girl among other things Buhle Moletsane. If you

don’t recognize this name, then honey where were you when Jo-Ann Strauss announced her first online presenter search winner for Glambition with Jo-Ann Strauss back in 2012. Needless to say this was the start of an amazing journey for this ambitiously beautiful young lady. I had the privilege of talking to the young lady who not only reminds us of the power we as young women have to make our dreams come true through hard work and dedication but also shows us that if we try to conform to the normality of the society, we miss the opportunity of showing the world how amazing we truly are.

First and foremost, who is Buhle Moletsane?

Buhle Moletsane is a young lady who is on a never ending journey to self-discovery, - she is just a princess diva who is no prisoner of fear.

Family means everything to you, how would you describe your upbringing?

It wasn't easy - it wasn't tough. I have a mother who has always provided a roof over my head and gave me food to eat. My mother is the type of woman who didn't mind wearing the same pairs of shoes the entire year just so that she can provide for my sister and I. As long as my sister and I were comfortable - that's all that mattered to her. So my upbringing was filled with warmth.

What is the one lesson that you have taken from your family?

One lesson I have taken from my family - my mother to be precise, is selflessness. I have naturally become that woman.

As an Alushi model but more so a young woman would you say you are comfortable in your own skin?

In my adolescent years, I was really not a secure being. It's funny because I never struggled when it came to my body, I've always been skinny - skinny is all I know. It was really because of the colourism thing that people made a big deal of. But as I grew and became a woman, I started taking charge and fell in love with me. I am now truly in love with my melanin self.

One of the many things that are admirable about you has to be your drive, have you always been like that cause nowadays young girls are looking at you thinking you've always had it all together.

LOL!! I do not have it all together - people must just know that. I have just learnt to appreciate life and take it as it comes. I do have bad days, what do I do? I have a good cry, pray about it and move on. No use dwelling on issues for so long. I have to be driven. I come from a family where the word "entertainment" is a foreign language to them; therefore, they do not support it at all. So I work extremely hard to prove to them that I can do this. I cannot waste time on being negative. Already life is tough enough. Negativity is a NO for me and I am learning to distance myself from such human beings - that kind of aura is contagious so I choose to stay away from it as I grow older. And that is how I "keep it together"

Who or what is your driving force?

God. I do not know who/what I would be if I did not have anybody to pray to. I read my Bible as well - that book of life is my manual.

You won the 1st Jo-Ann Strauss online presenter search back in 2012,how was that experience or rather take us back to that moment, what was going through your mind?

I still remember that moment vividly. I was on my way back to Joburg from Durban. It was the day they were to announce the winner - I found out that I had won through my best friend. She beat me to it, because she was just stuck on Jo-Ann's time line waiting for her to announce the winner. So after I found out that I won, I was a total hot mess! I couldn't stop crying plus I'm such a tap so when I cry, it’s real. It was a beautiful feeling and I got to meet amazing people through that.

What did you take from that experience?

Entertainment is not an easy industry to get into - you literally start from the bottom and you really have to be passionate and patient if you want to "make it". I got to cover Fashion Weeks which was fun. But at the end of the day, I just won the presenter search. That's it. It's up to me with regards to what I do with the title.

You also got to be on the cover with your mentor, Carol Bouwer, which must have been exciting and nerve wrecking, did you know what you wanted to gain from that experience and did you gain it?

Most definitely! Carol has taught me the business side of entertainment, which is what I wanted from her. We still communicate. We have phone dates every month where she checks on my progress. So our relationship is still intact.

How important is education among young people especially the young girls that want to be where you are?

Education is very very important. I have always believed that we are learners for life. In that same breath, as an individual, you must understand that it's what you do with your qualification that matters - because we can all go to varsity and be "encyclopedias" and just cram all the work given to us, get good marks and move up to the next level. So when choosing what you want to study, make sure you go into it knowing exactly why you want to study it - understand it so that one day, you will be able to pay it forward. Don't just choose a course for the sake of just choosing, otherwise, your restless soul will never forgive you.

From PR graduate to Jnr Account Executive of Sihle Bolani Communications and even working on TwentySwimwear with Omuhle Gela, what would you say was the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge was not being able to trust myself. I did not trust that I had good ideas -nor did I trust the fact that I could put together a strategy and implementation plan, until my mentor, Sihle Bolani said the following words to me: "You need to learn to trust yourself - when you are able to do that, you will do amazing things". And so I slowly started to trust myself and I delivered! I really enjoy being a PR Girl, I love the rush behind putting together a proposal and making decisions.

Not a lot of people know this but Refilwe Mazibuko on Rhythm City was actually written FOR YOU, how did feel to actually have a character written for you and how was the transition given that you initially auditioned for Zinizi Dandala?

The email I received from my agent at the time that said that the directors created a role for me based on my last audition (Zinzi) was totally unexpected! I was very excited that they decided to choose me. There wasn't really that much of a transition - I was just grateful that they saw something in me that could work for them. It's only the beginning :)

You are now on radio, was that always a passion?

I used to be with UNISA Radio back in 2013 - had my own radio show there as well. This year, the bug just hit me again! I just love talking and communicating, so having the mic in front of me for 3 hours has always been exciting. To me it's like, I am chilling with friends and catching up over a glass of juice. It's so much fun!

Not only are you a model, presenter enthusiast, actress and radio DJ but you are also well travelled, how do you find the time? Favourite destination thus far?

LOL! I wouldn't say I am well-travelled as of yet - I still need a few stamps inside my passport.

There's always time to travel, you just need to make the time - there is a whole planet out there and I need to see it. Every year, I always make sure that I'm travelling somewhere. My favourite destination thus far would have to be Bangkok and Phuket, simply because I shopped liked crazy when I was there.

You wrote on your blog a month or so ago, "THIS IS MY NOW" so I have to ask where to from here Buhle Moletsane?

Where to from here....well, can’t really say anything as of yet but suffice it to say that, all the significant actions have been taken and all the resources have been invested into everything that I want to get into. Simple English: I attend all my castings, do my thing and always pray for the best.