Fashion enthusiast and content creator from Mthatha, Ziyanda Nkunjana, emerged victorious when she was crowned the Best Content Creator at the 5th annual Emerge Africa Awards, beating 10 other talented creators at the SA State Theatre Arena in Pretoria on 28 March.

She has been making waves in the digital space with her unique blend of fashion, lifestyle, and village life content, and now her authentic and relatable content has earned her the top spot.

Expressing her gratitude at the prestigious red carpet ceremony, Nkunjana said she couldn’t believe that it was the thing she had been ashamed of that became the foundation of her success.

“I wish younger me could’ve seen this coming, I wish she knew that the very thing she was so ashamed of would land her here.

That’s who my audience fell in love with, that’s how I ended up on this stage today. Being myself, my village girl self from Mthatha, whom the internet loves so much.”

Making her heartfelt speech, she thanked her family, friends and online community who made the win possible.

“You might think it’s just like, a comment here and there, but to me it’s a soft nudge to keep going because someone thinks I’m worth it. Everyone who voted, shared and campaigned… we did it; it’s coming home.”

Nkunjana told the Express that her journey into content creation began as a means to document her fashion designs, but it soon evolved to encompass her village life experiences.

Her decision to pivot her content focus has attracted a diverse audience and earned her recognition in the industry. With a combined social media following of over 185 000 across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, Nkunjana is determined to continue growing her online presence and inspiring her community.