Tunashe Lifestyles x Chawa Setimela
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Africa is a breeding ground for young entrepreneurs. With the right vision, support, and drive, young people can do so much with their time and energy. One such example of a young person applying their energy and drive to an idea is Chawa Setimela; the owner and visionary behind Tunashe Lifestyles. Chawa “Cece” Setimela hails from Gaborone, Botswana. She has been studying in South Africa since her high school years. Being a foreign student in any country is no small feat, however it is even more trying when in highly isolated environments like private elite boarding schools. Tunashe Lifestyles was conceptualized during her final year of high school with her dreaming of creating a lifestyle brand that aimed to empower women around Africa. Tunashe Lifestyles is the umbrella of the products she sells at present and products to come.Her first big leap into the South African market took place in 2015 during her first year as a Stellenbosch University student. With supportive family and friends, Chawa started her lifestyle brand with “Tunashe’s Virgin Quality Hair”. With former brand ambassadors like Mapaseka Koetle, as a small business Tunashe Lifestyles had started to get its well-groomed sandal covered foot through the metaphorical door of the beauty industry. Of course, I had questions.Q: Most readers would have heard of the name ‘Tinashe’, but your lifestyle brand is ‘Tunashe’; where exactly is the name from?
A: When I was younger my parents called me Tuna, a pet name that I still carry today. Then the last three letters actually mean “she”, as in think of Tamar Braxton when she says “She, me, her”. When I put them together, it quite literally represents my memories of who I was as a child and my vision of the woman I want to be.
Q: The hair industry is a difficult industry to get into, as a lifestyle brand why would you start with hair as opposed to any other lifestyle product?
A: To put it simply, I like hair. I have been wearing weaves since high school. Also, I really love playing with hair color, but at the same time I like keeping my hair natural, so weaves let me have the best of both worlds. When I want to have red hair, which I have done, I can, then when I am tired I can take my weave (or my wig) off and enjoy my natural hair.
Q: How has the natural hair movement influenced your business and your personal life?
A: I find that when It comes to hair, it's pretty hard to separate my personal life from my business, so I'll just talk about both together. I have had incidents where people tell me that I don't support all forms of beauty and just European standards of beauty, but at the same time I have had incidents where people are like me with natural hair but use extensions to protect their hair and still have fun with it.
It's weird; I know that I would hate to make women feel like they must have a weave to be beautiful, I mean I take off my wig and I am not magically ugly afterwards.I encourage people to do what makes them comfortable; and if natural hair, processed hair, and/or weaves I am to grow my brand so that everyone has options about what to make a part of their lifestyle.
Q: You just mentioned growing your business, what is next for Tunashe Lifestyles?
A: I can't discuss some things yet, for obvious reasons, but our next move is aimed at the fitness industry. I went through my own fitness revolution of sorts towards the end of last year. I was overweight and not really fit, but with family support and the aid of various products I'm on a path to good health. Fitness is important and I want to share my experiences and journey with others through Tunashe Lifestyles. My dream is to be able to motivate others to get right with their health and bodies.
Q: What would you say is the most important thing when undertaking any decision for Tunashe Lifestyles?
A: I have this vision in my head of what my business could be. With every decision I make I remind myself to move in the direction of that goal. Tunashe Lifestyles embodies what is close to my heart, I always wait to make sure that I am making the right choices for my business.