- Itumeleng Mokwatlo proudly wears her boldness and identity. In a world where she is constantly being made to fit into certain boxes.
- Raised in Ga-Mashahane, Limpopo, living her truth and embracing who she knew she was wasn’t always easy. “I feel purposefully placed. I want them to see, to know and to understand that they exist, and to do so without fear.”
She wears her boldness and identity with pride. In a world in which we constantly have to fit into certain boxes, Itumeleng Mokwatlo does not allow himself to be locked up.
Crowned Socialite of the Year at this year’s Feather Awards 2022, those who have been around her can attest that her energy fills the room, and her bold statement pieces make it hard for you to miss her.
Itumeleng Mokwatlo dressed by Antherline for the AFI 2022 launch party. Photo: Sne Photography/Supplied
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“I still find myself,” she tells us of living a brave life and embracing her identity. She is a strategist, makeup enthusiast and content creator, who spawned the TumiPowerhouse brand. Itumeleng is a transgender woman who is proud to live her truth.
Growing up in Limpopo, in a village called Ga-Mashashane, living her truth and embracing who she knew she was wasn’t always easy. “There would be bullying here and there, but the love I received from home protected me. It was great. I grew up with love,” she adds.
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Itumeleng says her mother, whom she adores dearly, has been an anchor in her life. “My mom has always respected who I am and always supported me. I never had to ‘come out’.”
In recent years, she has become willful and vocal about who she is.
Itumeleng Mokwatlo on the night of the 2022 Feather Awards. Photo: Sne Photography/Supplied
“I had to be honest about my sexual identity. I had to let the process take its course mentally and emotionally,” she explains. How Itumeleng has appeared has inspired others who may not have had the courage to embrace who they are and live their lives without any fear of society’s judgement. She says, “I feel purposefully placed. I want them to see, to know, and to understand that they exist, and that they should do so without fear.”
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The fashion lover recently wore a showstopper dress to the Feather Awards designed by South African design house Antherline Couture. The mini dress had a long trail that spoke more than a thousand words. They were images of trans women in the country, and for Itumeleng, this was a tribute to those who are part of the community and have made great strides.
“I come as 1, but stand as 10,000. Today I want you to see the faces of all the trans girls who constantly emerge in a world that always reminds them that they don’t deserve to exist,” she captioned her Instagram photo in the dress.
A showstopper dress for a woman on a mission to live purposefully. Photo: Sne Photography/Delivered
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“People never talk about how hard it is to make it as a black trans body in South Africa across different industries. I have a community of trans and non-binary people who are changing that narrative, and it was important to get them to honor in the form of what I wore.
“I wanted to let them know that they are seen and worthy. My bag has Iko Mash’s face on it [the late socialite from the 90s]who I think had the bitter end of the stick in her courage to show up, as she and I said through the sack, we carry some of the dreams you had, and I hope we make you proud. says Itumeleng.
She says some of the best days of my life haven’t happened yet. “I always have to remember that someone’s fate depends on me moving forward,” she adds.
