At 22, the artist is moving through the world with softness and ease. Embracing new stages, new stories, and new versions of herself, she shows that becoming isn’t about perfection, it’s about stepping boldly into the unknown. Her partnership with Brutal Fruit proves that not only is she the moment, but she belongs!
It is often said that Zee Nxumalo is the moment: a rising star who owns her presence without trying too hard. She stays remarkably grounded despite the rapid rise. “I can relate to people when they say I’m their role model; I’ve also had people I’ve looked up to, and I know how it feels to look at someone and think, I ike how they do their own things. You become aspirational.”
As our GLAMOUR Women of the Year, Editor’s Choice, she beams as she shares how the award honours her younger self, the dreamer, who was born in Eswatini and raised in the township of Alexandra, Johannesburg. In simple phrasing, “It was reassuring,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to be like this, to live like this, and to do even greater.”
Supporting her star power is her team of incredible people: “I appreciate each and every one of them, and being in spaces that empower and celebrate women has made me want to add more women to my team,” she says. “When a woman is present, you can feel it, even with the small things women pay closer attention to. At the moment, I’m surrounded by men, from my bookings team, road managers, photographers and dancers. I literally have one female dancer. This is something I’d like to change.” Zee wants her journey to open doors for others, especially young female artists dreaming of a career in music.
Expanding on her approach to impact, Zee shares that she aspires to empower women through education. “I’d like to be in a position to provide scholarships to young women who are looking to further their studies. There are women with potential but who don’t have the funds to pursue higher education. I want to help them access the academic space.” While she’s a successful musician, Zee says she didn’t progress in academia as far as she’d hoped. So, this is her way of giving back to both herself and her community. Guided by creative instinct, Zee has recently discovered her passion for storytelling through visuals, music videos, and short films. Beyond her short film, Ngisakuthanda, which premiered mid-November, she has also tapped into acting.
In a humble confession, Zee admits that she approached an acting coach to better her skills — but she’s glad people can’t tell.
Reflecting on the experience, she says acting has been both a personal revelation and a learning curve. “It showed me that I’m so much more resilient than I thought I was,” she says. As she continues to dare greatly, I ask what part of her journey she’s most proud of. “The fearless part. I’ve learned to invest a lot in my craft because it elevates the brand so much. As an independent artist, there’s no one to fall back on financially. I think most of the time we look at money and think we’ll get it back. But when you invest in something that has brand value, the return isn’t always monetary. You can do a PR shoot and no one is going to pay you back for that, but it might bring in gigs, collaborations and exposure. That’s something I had to grow into — it didn’t come easy.” She hopes every woman who reads her story walks away with a feeling of empowerment and accomplishment over their own lives. “I think women need to gain more exposure. It really allows you to dream bigger and step out of your comfort zone.” “Imagine if I’d exposed myself earlier? Maybe I’d be even better — but everything happens at the right time,” she says. “Look at who I am now. You have to just go for it. Read. Travel. Even if it’s locally. Start somewhere.”
As for her next era? “I’d love to be a risk-taker. A believer of my craft. You just have to do it!
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