05 Mar 2019

The name Antoinette Kamodi sounds familiar to those who keep natural hair and style for different occasions.

 She is the director of Amazingly Natural BW; a beauty movement that organises the annual Natural Hair and Fashion Show, which was held in Jwaneng recently.

Kamodi said in an interview that the aim of the show was to promote excellence in creative youth businesses, brand building and marketing as well as promoting natural hair care business and African fashion “Hosting the natural hair fashion show is the epitome of a natural hair journey that I have embraced for the better part of my life as young woman.

The show has helped me to express what began as a personal story and now has grown big enough to be shared with the rest of the world,” she said.

She said Amazingly Natural BW was a mentorship programme that offered a platform to the youth in the creative businesses such as natural hair models, hair stylists, fashion designers, make-up artists, photographers and bloggers to showcase their work.

“It all started in 2014 when I wanted to find out if natural hair could be a solution to my weak and fine hair and after research I appreciated it more and that is when I started my natural hair journey,” said the 29-year-old office administrator.

For the past three years, she said she had empowered and mentored other youth in the creative industry adding that the response she gets through Facebook and phone calls has been amazing.

She acknowledged that Batswana were responding positively to the show.

Also, she said hair companies in South African were recognising her efforts as she has been selected to be a brand ambassador for one of the companies.

 “As a hair blogger, I interview naturalists around Botswana to share their hair journey on the page called ‘Hair-inspiration 101’ and then share with my followers.

I interact with others on a personal level, addressing their hair challenges and needs, share videos to teach, inspire and answer any questions that my followers might have,” she said.

Although she is a fulltime office administrator at Gosmag Holdings, Kamodi said she would not trade her passion for anything adding that she was fuelled by the support she gets from her family who believes in her dreams.

She highlighted that it was important for Africans to retrace their steps to the natural way and use suitable hair products to maintain the good look and match their outfits.

“Natural hair is an art and lifestyle to some naturalists and an inspiration to those who believe in beauty.

Following the success of the inaugural show last year, we were inspired to make the show an annual event to inspire anybody who wants to go the natural way and give them an opportunity to learn about hair brands to enhance natural beauty,” she said. ENDS