If there’s one person who needs no introduction to our readers, it’s the unmistakable Yaya Mavundla.
Described across our industry as a trailblazer, an innovator, an activist, an artist, an icon and many other superlatives, her impact has been impossible to ignore over the past decade as her star has risen higher and higher.
From art exhibitions that have seen her tour the world; to a list of historic “firsts” and achievements that only sees to grow longer by the year, Yaya’s career progress serves as a reminder to those who look up to her that the boundaries which exist were made to be broken.
Fresh off the back of a thought-provoking Women’s Day cover feature in our sister publication, Front Page, Yaya has now bared it all for arguably her boldest editorial decision yet (– and arguably ours too!)
For the first time in our publication’s history, we are proud to unveil our inaugural Naked Issue. And when the topic of who should don this illustrious cover came up, there was only one name that came to mind….
How does it feel to be Yaya Mavundla today?
So many feelings! Overall, amazing! I could not be more grateful!
As we speak, I just came back from a meeting about a really big opportunity (we can discuss it later in this conversation) and it just dawned on me that these are the things I always prayed for. In fact, they are happening on an even bigger scale than what I prayed for, so I am genuinely grateful to God for everything the way the story continues to unfold. God always decides exactly when things should happen when you are ready for them too.
We’re delighted to be speaking again for Previdar, on a historic moment for the publication as you are unveiled as the cover star of its first-ever Naked Issue.
Talk us through the concept and how it came to life.
Let me start with how it came to life first. I actually pitched the idea to Previdar’s Managing Editor, Sheila Afari, very recently. Having recently been featured on the cover of their sister publication, Front Page but I expressed that I had a really bold idea to do a nude cover.
Can I tell you, she did not even hesitate! She said yes and we got the ball rolling.
I suppose I was a little surprised because I know there would be some hesitation in other rooms if the idea to cast a trans woman for a nude cover was pitched to their publications.
As for the concept – through my art, I have always wanted to create work which invites people to really ask questions and want to learn more in the end.
Sometimes that means doing things that the mainstream world wouldn’t regard as “normal”. But when you’re bold enough to bare all the clothes, and pose in your own skin for the camera and offer that to the world it does a few things. It sends a message about you, and how comfortable you are as yourself, and it challenges the world to begin to have more conversations about how we need to represent trans women in these big publications too.
Not only that – but in doing so you become the first transgender woman to be cast as a cover star for a South African Magazine’s Naked/Nude Issue. Even in your typical Western markets (e.g. USA, UK) – we’ve yet to see many if any trans models trusted with nude shoots. Were you determined to change the course?
Absolutely. I am no stranger to firsts, and this is another first I am extremely proud of as well but I always say that I am not doing it simply for the sake of “being the first to do it”. I always frame these types of achievements as things that will then make it easier for other trans women who have been used to seeing doors slammed in their faces when they knock next time and pitch their ideas.
It’s meaningless for me if I am the first and only trans woman to do “ABC” – it must lead to more opportunities across not just this industry, but more industries too.
And do you think it sends a message to other big players in the media industry too?
Without a doubt. When you hear Previdar saying “We trust Yaya for a nude shoot”, then other big names in the industry will also begin to be more open in their representation of trans women. In the same way that a publication would have no problem writing about a cisgender celebrity who bares their clothes for a good cause – we would like to see them trust a transgender model, or transgender activist, or transgender – any profession for such a cover issue.
Most importantly for me, I think I have been in the position of trying to pitch ideas, trying to get work and being denied because I wasn’t trying – but because some people would not want to work with me simply because I am a trans woman.
Then you find the industry accuses you of “not wanting the work enough” or questioning your work ethic when, in fact, the opportunities were not even there to prove my work at the time!
How could someone accuse a young South African of not wanting to work when we have such challenges with youth unemployment already?!
For me, it boils down to one word: Privilege. In my definition, privilege is you being able to get exactly the results of what you work for, or being able to get whatever you desire, without anything getting in your way.
When you don’t have privilege, you can end up working extremely hard but you are not in control of whether you will get what you want or not.
So then you find someone who is fortunate enough to be in this position (privilege), who can’t understand that someone who doesn’t have the same advantages has a harder time achieving the same results.
So the person with privilege uses phrases like “Work harder”. “You don’t want to work”. “People are lazy”.
None of these things are true at all and we must all work harder to understand the role privilege plays in the successes of many.
Before wrapping, let’s get back to something you mentioned above about an awards show? A little birdie tells me you will be hosting the International Pride Awards in Cape Town next month?
You won’t believe the story! So I got an email a few weeks back, and the subject line just said “Hello Yaya”. I’m gagged I even opened the email! I would usually not open something like that, thinking it’s spam or something. But then I start reading and they are explaining that they are looking for a host for the inaugural International Pride Awards, they’re going to be in Cape Town this year, they know about me and like my work… now I’m starting to see it’s legit.
I continued reading and at first I suspected that “maybe they are shopping around for a host or something” until I realised that this was really a big deal. They are based abroad and working alongside the UN Development Fund and ilga WORLD.
So the show will be honouring LBGTI icons and heroes from across the globe and I am extremely excited to be honoured with the opportunity to host the event.
That is yet another first to add to your portfolio!
Absolutely! For me, it’s just testament once again to the fact that we don’t always know who is watching, who is keeping track of your work, who is recommending you in rooms that you are not aware of and it is so encouraging.
Especially because I have knocked on a lot of doors for these kinds of opportunities (like I was mentioning earlier). I pitched to host red carpet at big awards like The Feather Awards, The SAMAs, I pitched to present an award at the SAFTAs – sadly none of these organisations responded.
But then you see a global organisation like the International Pride Awards saying “We’ve followed you, we want you!” and it’s just so affirming.
I’ll end this interview with the same words I began it with:
I could not be more grateful.
