Skip to content

Our August/Women's Month Cover Star, Natasha Thahane on owning the moment, self-expression and 'unfiltered grace'

Thespian, mom, creative force and modern tastemaker Natasha Thahane has mastered the art of embracing every facet of herself. From her evolution on screen to her journey of self-discovery, faith and intentional living, she represents a new generation of women redefining success on their own terms. Through the lens of the HUAWEI Pura 90 Series, Natasha shares how technology, creativity and authentic storytelling intersect, capturing not just how life looks, but how it feels. 

Natasha Tahane's life is made up of a series of memorable moments, and her approach to navigating her various roles on off screen continues to capture the attention of audiences and brands alike. As the xxx for HUAWEI, the brand's philosophy, “Now is Your Moment”, which is about celebrating self- expression and encouraging people to capture life’s defining moments from their own unique perspectives, seems fitting. 

What resonated with her most about that message? “It reminded me to stop waiting for the ‘perfect’ future and start living in the present. Too often we’re so busy looking ahead that we miss the wonder happening right under our noses. ‘Now is Your Moment’ is a beautiful reminder that our everyday, unfiltered lives are worthy of being celebrated and captured.” The partnership looks and feels authentic, but what made partnering with HUAWEI feel like the right fit for Natasha? “HUAWEI understands that technology shouldn’t just be functional and that it should be an extension of your lifestyle, your style and your creative vision. Right now, I need tools that keep up with my fast-paced life without making me sacrifice my personal aesthetic, and HUAWEI hits that sweet spot perfectly.”

Natasha Thahane graces the cover of our August/ Women's Month Issue

As she moves seamlessly between film sets, business meetings, travel, family life and content creation, Natasha believes that having technology that adapts to every facet of her lifestyle makes all the difference. “My days are basically five different lives stitched together, so I need tech that keeps up without me thinking about it. Having a device that smoothly transitions from a high-quality work tool to a memory-capturing camera for moments like recording and sending high-quality self-tapes keeps me organised, productive and completely in the zone.”

Despite her fast-paced schedule, it’s the simple, authentic moments that Natasha cherishes most. Whether she’s on set, exploring a new destination, or enjoying a quiet afternoon with loved ones, she says the memories she instinctively captures with her camera are always laughter.
“The candid, unposed moments! It’s the sound of belly laughter on set. Those raw, genuine slivers of life are the ones I want to bottle up forever.” At the heart of the HUAWEI Pura 90 Series is the idea of helping people stay present while preserving life’s most meaningful moments.

For Natasha, striking that balance between experiencing a moment and documenting it is essential. “Nothing is worse than living your life through a screen while missing the actual experience right in front of you! You want to be able to look back at a gorgeous memory, but you also want to remember exactly how it felt to be there. Having a camera that lets you capture stunning shots quickly and effortlessly means you can snap the photo and instantly get back to enjoying the vibe.” As someone whose career is built on visual storytelling, Natasha has developed a keen eye for the elements that make an image truly memorable. For her, the most compelling photographs are those that capture genuine emotion and tell a story without saying a word. “It’s all about the eyes and the lighting. A great photo tells a story without needing a caption. When a camera captures real texture, authentic skin tones and the genuine emotion in someone’s gaze, it stops being just an image and becomes a feeling.”

Designed to capture natural colour, rich light and remarkable detail across a variety of environments, the HUAWEI Pura 90 Series is built to preserve moments as they are experienced. For Natasha, that commitment to authenticity is what makes a photograph truly meaningful. She believes the best images don’t just look beautiful, they faithfully reflect the emotion, atmosphere and memories of the moment itself. “This is extremely important! I’ve had photos taken of me that look nothing like how the moment actually felt, and that always bothers me a little. I’m not a fan of heavy, artificial- looking filters that distort reality. I want my photos to reflect the warmth of the sun as I actually saw it, or the true, rich colours of a sunset. When a camera preserves that natural light and depth, the memory stays pure.

Inspired by travel, landscapes and the ever-changing beauty of natural light, the phone’s Rhythm of Colour design philosophy celebrates the way our surroundings shape how we see the world. Considering that Natasha’s work and travels expose her to new cultures and experiences, every destination becomes a source of creative inspiration, influencing everything from her style to her storytelling. “Every place leaves a colour palette in my head. A city’s light changes how I want to dress, how I want to move, even how I want to tell a story. Travel is basically my moodboard. Travel completely resets my creative clock.”

The HUAWEI Pura 90 Series blends elegant design with purposeful technology, recognising that the devices we carry have become an extension of our style. For Natasha, a smartphone is not only a tool, but an everyday accessory that should complement both her aesthetic and her dynamic lifestyle. “It’s crucial! If it’s going to be in my hand or on the table during a meeting, it has to look good. A phone is just as much an accessory as a handbag or a killer pair of sunglasses. I love sleek, sophisticated designs that make a statement the second you pull them out.” With features such as AI composition, the HUAWEI Pura 90 Series is designed to support creativity while keeping the creator firmly in control. For Natasha, technology works best when it enhance her vision rather than replacing it, acting as a creative partner that offers guidance while allowing her perspective to shine. “I treat it like a great director on set! It’s there to give me a brilliant cue or a helpful guide, but the final performance is entirely mine.”

As an actress, she understands that storytelling extends far beyond what audiences see on screen. The moments between takes, shared experiences with cast and crew, and the memories created along the way often become some of the most treasured chapters. “Some of my favourite memories are the chaotic, hilarious moments in the hair-and-makeup trailer at 4am, sharing snacks with the crew, or playing music between heavy emotional scenes to keep the energy up. That’s where the real bonds are formed.” When it comes to the memories she hopes to preserve for years to come, Natasha values authenticity over perfection. Her camera roll is a reflection of a life fully experienced; filled with love, laughter, family, creativity and the beautifully imperfect moments in between. “A beautiful mix of unfiltered chaos and pure joy! I want to see endless baby giggles, messy family braais, BTS on film sets and stamp-filled passports. I hope it shows a woman who truly lived a full textured, loved-up life and not just a highlight reel of it.

Natasha Thahane

As a woman balancing multiple roles, she shares that her definition of success has evolved alongside her journey. “Success for me used to be about accolades, you know, being booked and busy. Today, success is peace of mind. It’s having the freedom to choose my projects, the time to be fully present for my son and family. If I am happy and at peace, I am successful.”
When asked how motherhood has shifted her perspective on presence, legacy and appreciating life’s everyday moments, Natasha shares that it has slowed her down in the best possible way.
“It has brought me closer to God, I have grown spiritually and realise that the biggest gift that I can give my son is for him to know God.” As she stands firmly rooted in her faith, what is she is saying “yes” to more often in this chapter of her life? “Yes to rest! Yes to play and yes to having the faith of the mustard seed.”

Reflecting on this chapter of her life, she speaks openly about the lessons that have come with growth, motherhood and embracing a deeper sense of self. When asked what she is learning to let go of, her answer is simple yet powerful: “The need to explain myself.” Looking back on the moments she hopes to preserve from this season of her life, Natasha shares that she would return to a deeply personal memory: “I would revisit travelling to Thailand with my grandmother. Looking back, I realise how precious those moments were, especially knowing they became some of our last memories together.” For Natasha, legacy is not only found in milestones, but in the connections, experiences, and memories that shape who we become. As she embraces motherhood, faith and the beauty of everyday moments, she describes her current era as “unfiltered grace."

Share this article: