Vunene Mabasa, a talented makeup artist from Chavani village, created a buzz on social media this past weekend when she shared a photo of a portrait she had painted of Bafana Bafana’s goalkeeper Ronwen Williams on her chest, using makeup. This artistic expression followed the soccer team’s glorious victory over Cape Verde in a thrilling quarterfinal match on Saturday (3 February).
Bafana’s historic win secured their spot in the AFCON semi-finals, with Ronwen Williams hailed as a national hero for saving four crucial penalties in the shootout. To celebrate this remarkable achievement, Mabasa, like many others on social media, shared tributes to the team. Her artwork garnered an overwhelming wave of praise from her followers.
Mabasa earned a degree in computer-systems engineering from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), but despite her qualifications, she could not secure a job in that field. In 2019, she ventured into makeup artistry. For her, makeup is not just about enhancing beauty but also about adding a touch of magic to significant moments. Her tribute to Ronwen Williams not only showcased her artistic skills but also resonated with fans, who appreciated the unique blend of her creativity.
“After watching the match, I instantly knew this was going to be my art piece for the week. Ronwen literally saved us; that is legendary and deserves to be honoured. I received so much feedback from thousands of my followers. The energy was impeccable; I never anticipated it, especially on Facebook. My page has been growing rapidly since Sunday,” she said.
As a freelance makeup artist, she often faces a "dry season" and a lack of diversity. When asked how she was overcoming these challenges, she mentioned her efforts to monetize on Facebook. “It’s not that simple, but I’m working on it. In the meantime, I’m also making plans to address the lack of diversity in my work, but this will be announced soon,” she said.
