A guide to Zimbabwe’s top influencers

The Sunday Mail

Talk of the Town with Kimberly Mhembere

LIKE many locals, I spent a huge chunk of my formative years shying away from social media.

For me, Instagram was just something I browsed through looking at pictures of fashion ideas, trends and celebrities.

I would do so once, maybe twice, a week.

And to be honest, I had no idea how serious the medium really was.

That was then.

Now, I am wiser and fully caught up!

If you have been following this column for the past couple of weeks, chances are you will have noticed that I always refer back to the power of social media, in particular Instagram and Pinterest.

Now, let’s delve a little deeper into the phenomenon that is social media and the influencers that maximise on its power.

There was once a time when almost every celebrity was considered an influencer.

Some of the world’s top brands, in particular cosmetics, have been known to pay exorbitant fees just to be associated with actors, musicians and athletes.

But that also has since changed.

Now, it is no longer a celebrity’s game, as ordinary people have started to claim their own piece of the cake.

All one needs is a vibrant social media game.

Being a lifestyle blogger in Zimbabwe is nothing new, but being an Instagram influencer is.

For one to qualify as an influencer, you need to have the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others.

If you follow any style or food bloggers on Instagram, chances are that you have bumped into Natai-Natai, Zoza Collections and Eat with Wendy across your feed.

These are just the tip of the iceberg, as aforementioned influencers have built a reputation for their knowledge and expertise when it comes to the culinary arts.

Below are short biographies on some of the country’s 10 top influencers that over the past couple of years have followed suit in fashion and lifestyle.

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