BASETSANA KUMALO

Born in Soweto on 29 March 1974, Basetsana Makgalemele (now Kumalo) has gone from humble beginnings to beauty pageant winner, and well-known television personality, to respected South African businesswoman and philanthropist.

Her life story is one of rags to riches – and sounds like a fairy tale come true in modern-day South Africa. But Bassie (as she is generally known) has applied a lot of planning, hard work and determination to achieve all she has.

The former Miss South Africa began her schooling in at Orlando West’s Thabisang Primary School, but transferred to Lenasia to complete her studies before following in her mother’s footsteps and studying to become a teacher at the University of Venda.

She never got to use her teaching degree, however. Her future was shaped at the age of 16 when the teen won the Miss Soweto beauty pageant and went on to win the Miss Black South Africa title in the same year.

She followed this up by taking the Miss South Africa title in 1994 and the first princess sash in the Miss World pageant – wins and international exposure that served as a launching pad for Kumalo’s very successful career.

Instead of relaxing and simply enjoying her 12-month reign as Miss South Africa, Kumalo worked at making the most of the opportunity that was presented to her. Apart from having to overcome traditional perceptions of beauty pageant winners, Kumalo made valuable contacts and quite instinctively paved the way for developing the much-loved Bassie brand.

While still Miss South Africa Kumalo launched her television career. After a successful promotion recording Kumalo was offered a slot as a presenter. Within months, at the age of 20, she co-founded an all female production company Tswelopele Productions with Patience Stevens and negotiated the first external contract to be awarded by the SABC for Top Billing.

The current president of the Businesswoman’s Association of South Africa financed her first business venture by investing some of her prize money, and borrowing from her parents.

Taking the courage and chutzpah she’d learnt from her participation in pageants into the business world, Kumlao went on to establish her own make-up, clothing and sunglasses range, became a director of a successful travel company, started a publishing company producing Top Billing magazine, and diversified her business portfolio into mining and property… and carved a formidable name for herself in the business world.

The former head girl and top science student attributes her grounding in business knowledge to her parents. Her father, Philip, was a bus driver and her mother, Beatrice, was a teacher, but her enterprising parents also ran a small construction company and curtain making business to supplement their income.

Kumalo, her two sisters and brother were also expected to help earn money – which included selling sweets to friends at school and selling sandwiches an ice cream at soccer matches on the weekend.

Earning the title Revlon face of sub-Saharan Africa and serving as Revlon’s ambassador for five years was another stepping stone in Kumalo’s career giving her exposure locally and internationally – but it is what she has done with these opportunities that sets her apart.

Philanthropy features strongly in Kumalo’s life. She’s spent much time helping community upliftment projects from her time as Miss South Africa and beyond. She’s been involved in Childline, Reach for a Dream has been a Life Champion for Life College alongside people such as Tim Modise and Raymond Ackerman, and appointed to the board of HIV/AIDS prevention organisation LoveLife.

With her Soweto-born husband, Romeo – former general manager at SABC1 and currently Vodacom’s executive commercial director – Kumalo has also formed the Romeo & Basetsana Kumalo Family Foundation to assist the development of children, especially those orphaned by AIDS or related diseases.

Together they won the 2009 Inyathelo Philanthropy Merit Award from the South African Institute for Advancement, which recognised the extraordinary work they’ve done to assist individuals and communities in South Africa.

In 2008 Kumalo’s Bassie brand was listed as one of the top personal brands in the Sunday Times Top Brands Survey, a reflection of the success she’s made of melding glamour and sophistication with being a leading contemporary CEO, businesswoman and role model.

Kumalo attributes some of her success to being street smart, taking risks, not taking no for an answer and surrounding herself with the best brains in the business.

As a devoted mother to her only son, Nkosinathi, Kumalo tries to balance a successful and fulfilling career with family responsibilities. Despite their high profile the Kumalo’s keep their lives pretty simple and prioritise what is important – like quality family time on the weekends.