- Mphowabadimo remembers how much she's grown and evolved since winning Big Brother Mzansi in 2022.
- She says the best part of motherhood is seeing her children grow right before her eyes.
- The sangoma has ventured into music by producing her debut amapiano track Bonga.
Mphowabadimo is in the limelight again but this time she’s showing Mzansi more of her talents.
A personality so warm with her almost 75 000 YouTube subscribers, Big Brother Mzansi season three winner Michelle Dimpho ‘Mphowabadimo’ Mvundla is just as welcoming in person.
The 29-year-old tells TRUELOVE she’s not the same person who walked into the Biggie's house back in January 2022.
“It’s just a reminder of how much I’ve grown and evolved as a person and Big Brother has played such a vital role in my life. It has shaped the woman I’ve become because, yes, we play on this thing, play your game – but literally life is a game, you know, you always need to play your game. So, I think I will forever treasure the experience and how it has shaped me as a person and I will be Big Brother.”
Since her win, life has changed drastically for the sangoma. From finding love in the house to dealing with heartbreak and immersing herself in motherhood, Mpho has risen above whatever comes her way.
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It’s not always easy though. She had to step back from the spotlight. Giving herself a break was what was needed for her to choose the right path and opportunities to build herself and take care of her family.
“I don’t want to lie, it has been very tricky to navigate because also our media space is another world on its own. So, I think amongst everything I wanted to breathe first because it can get a little overwhelming. The fame overnight, you are now this big person,” Mpho shares.
“So, I think me taking a break and disconnecting was the perfect move for myself and it’s good to take a break and breathe and now I think I’m at a good space and I’m just pushing myself and finding also what I want to do in the industry. Because it’s very easy to end up doing something you were never planning to do because of fans and pushing you in a space so it’s a lot.”
With two children to nurture after the birth of her son with former partner and Big Brother Mzansi housemate Themba ‘Thembabroly’ Mabaso in May 2023, Mpho gives a heartfelt message to her little ones – and her inner child. Plus, she shares her favourite thing about being a mother.
“Always believe in yourself because there’s only one of you and there’ll always be you, no copy. So, being true to yourself, being proud of who you are, it will always take you places. Don’t dim your light for anything or anybody.
“The best part of motherhood is watching someone grow right before your eyes. There is no greater experience. I think I’m always humbled to see that the gift of life, God has trusted me with and it’s just so beautiful.”
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Part of Mpho’s journey of self-discovery comes with reuniting with past passions, one of them being music.
In November 2023, Mpho made her music debut with the single Bonga, featuring Mlindo the Vocalist, AIrBurn Sounds, Sage and Starr Healer.
Excited to explore music producing in a range of genres from amapiano to house with a mix of Mzansi’s talented sound engineers, Mpho admits it took a while to find her path after coming out of the Big Brother house.
“I think I took some time to [be] like, you know what, let me find what does Mpho want to do because after the show, mostly the things I ventured into was business because I needed to secure financially. But now I think I’m more at a creative space. I’m doing me, everything, everybody is sorted.
“Now I need to sort me out and that’s when we branched into the music space and it’s always been a passion of mine, it’s just that when it started, I was not in a space around people that saw the vision, saw the dream. So, now music is beautiful and I’m exploring different sounds, I’m exploring different elements trying to work with different people because I’m a spiritual person and we talk through music. We communicate through music. So, I think I’m at home where I’m at right now.”
Teasing what to expect from the rising personality, Mpho says, “Well, 2024 is going to be wild. All I can say is bayamosha kuBig Brother, nathi siyamosha! So, you can expect a lot of things, the girl is back, we are working and there’s a lot to expect. Mpho has grown and I’m excited to share this part of myself with everyone.”
