10 Years of Yaya Mwanda: From Growing Up with Body Image Struggles to Becoming a Trailblazing Model

Growing up with a larger frame and constantly being reminded of it, Yaya Mwanda never saw modeling as a possible career path. The idea seemed far-fetched, given the pressure to always be aware of her weight.

 

Now celebrating 10 years in that ‘far-fetched’ career is a feat that means more to her than just posing for the camera and looking fly, but as a testament to overcoming self-doubt, embracing her true self, and breaking the barriers that once held her back.

 

But getting to this point hasn’t been an easy journey, so much so that it brought the multitalented model to tears as she reflected.

 

“It’s been such a long journey,” she paused to catch her breath as her voice trembled with emotions. “I remember a couple of years ago, I used to imagine telling people, ‘I love my career, but I just wish it loved me back’. I think for the longest time I really felt like giving up because of how hard this journey has been. It’s trying to cement your name in the game, finding your feet, finding your confidence, all wrapped in one. It was just a lot.

 

“But I did,” she said, breaking into a soft, triumphant laugh.

 

“Over and above the fact that I really love what I do, modeling has become a source of inspiration for other young girls. And that is why I keep going back to it. Like I said, growing up, I never got to see a Yaya doing what I do but had to become my own inspiration.”

 

She admits that her upbringing was also met with a lot of self-esteem issues.

 

“I grew up in a community that was mostly made up of Indian and colored people. If that wasn’t enough pressure, I grew up chubby all my life, and I remember how I started trying to lose weight at the age of 10 years old. And when people see me now and how confident I am, they assume I grew up tiny and only gained weight as I grew up.

 

“I had to learn to laugh at myself first before others did so they couldn’t make fun of me. In a way, as much as no child should go through what I went through, that period helped with my character development because I was never afraid to put myself out there because I’ve already said the worst about myself,” she said.

 

She also had to work hard to be the funniest, the smartest, and the most jovial so no one highlighted her weight. She always had to work extra hard to be a step ahead.

 

As painful as that phase was, it also taught her to be more accepting of others in their differences, something that she believes the South African modelling industry still lags behind on.

 

“We still need more and more representatives of all sorts within this space. We still need to see platforms being created for the average African/South African shape. Because if we are being honest, full-figured women are an African shape, and yet we are still going in the western direction for that description. So there’s still room for education in that department; there’s still a need for more advocates, because this transcends just modelling but deals with self-esteem, acceptance, and identity,” shares the bubbly 32-year-old.

 

Her journey to stepping in front of the camera began during her varsity days, when the fashion brand Khosi Nkosi held a competition for models. The competition details were shared by a friend, encouraging her to enter, but she thought the idea was crazy.

“I ultimately sent through some images from my very crusty BlackBerry Curve, and I didn’t follow up. That very same friend posted, weeks later, the finalists, and I saw my name there. I was so shocked. From that day onwards, I learned the importance of checking my emails daily,” she said, laughing.

 

And although she did not go far in that competition, she was scouted by the owner of Fabulous sitcom Models, and that kick started her career.

 

Growing up, Yaya took fashion inspiration from her brother’s wife, who was her main female figure.

“She was always so beautiful and graceful, and I would admire how she carried herself. So much so that I remember in boarding school, I would strut around the school in heels,” she said, laughing. “I was determined to be that girl. Walking to the cafeteria or to go chill in heels.”

 

She is the lastborn, raised by her mother, who was always away during the week due to work. She was predominantly raised by her eldest brother until age 16 when she was offered the opportunity to go to boarding school.

 

One random day after the rain had stopped, she was inspired by a bird cleaning itself to go study Animal Health.

 

“A year or so into my degree, I realized that I don’t like animals,” she said before cracking up. “I thought I would be surrounded by dogs only.” She gave up that qualification to further pursue her modelling career.

 

“Modeling has become an advocacy voice for me. The fact that I had my own insecurities with my own body and I am now using that to help others embrace their bodies is so poetic. I might be a small voice, but I am a necessary voice in this very pertinent journey of acceptance. I appreciate and love my body so much more than I did when I was younger,” she said.

With so much to in store, Yaya is determined to make her name known within the entertainment industry. One career move at a time.