In case you didn’t already know, we (the team at Moziak Magazine) love birthdays, and we’ve made no secret of it in past weeks. Who can forget the delightful birthday cover we dropped to celebrate Nadia Nakai’s big day and on the 8th of July we were at it again as we showed some love to one of Mzansi’s biggest influencers: Brooklyn Masuku.
Glowing from having just turned a year older and a year wiser, and beaming from the news of a big awards nomination, the Durban-born influencer spoke to us about the secrets behind her success, and some of her next big goals.
Moziak Magazine: Happy Birthday Brooklyn! We wish we could get you cake but we’ll settle for this interview instead. How are you celebrating your big day?
Brooklyn Masuku: Thank you so much for asking, Well I am such a workaholic. I’ll be doing what I do best which is create content digitally for work. Oh, then I’ll obviously have my favorite beverage after work with some close people. Nothing hectic just chilled vibes only
MM: How were you originally planning on celebrating your birthday (outside of lockdown)?
BM: Originally, I would have booked out the most prestigious venue at Eyadini Lounge. It would have been a champagne night ( I adore Champagne Daaaarliiiing ). Maximum of 50 people, a masquerade theme nothing to much though LOL.
MM: Your birthdate means your star sign is Cancer. Do you fit the typical characteristics of a Cancerian?
BM: Of course, I am such an emotional human being. I mean emotional and intense, I am also extremely intuitive and compassionate. I ‘get’ people all the time. I definitely fit the criteria of being a Cancerian.
MM: For those who are still new to your brand, tell us the story of how you became one of Mzansi’s most exciting digital creatives.
BM: The Digital Content that I create for every brand that I work with. I usually get credited by the brands that hire me on their campaigns. People started recognizing the pattern of how I work, especially the people that follow me on social media. I’d make announcements regularly, telling people that I worked on a campaign for a brand and they would share the announcements and that’s how everyone got a clear picture of me being Mzansi’s best young creative.
MM: You’ve worked with some of the biggest celebrities in the country – from Cassper Nyovest to Bonang Matheba. What has been your most memorable experience so far?
BM: Interviewing Bonang Matheba for Forbes Women Africa. This is it, standing close to the Queen in March this year was the most memorable and unforgettable experience thus far. Bonang has that posture and that exquisiteness that rubs off to you. I will never forget that moment, especially because I have always dreamt of working with her, interviewing her was the closest. Not forgetting the selfies we both took. Sickening, as she would say.
MM: You’re nominated for the Hustler of the Year category which recognises hardworking influencers. How did you react when you found out the news?
BM: I have never won or been nominated before. I was overwhelmed and I screamed. I called all my friends and told my family. Seriously, I cried because I didn’t imagine that I would be recognized for the hustle, especially for the contributions I’ve contributed to the Entertainment and Media industry, not forgetting the digital landscape.
MM: Have you got a speech planned just in case you win?
BM: Listen, I have got the longest paragraph. I’ve watched a lot of awards shows ever since I was a kid. I think I’ve prepared myself well for when I when. I want to have the feeling of Beyoncé whenever she delivers an acceptance speech in a room filled with people.
MM: What are some of your other major goals for the rest of 2020?
BM: Firstly —— Being the digital creative that I am, I was recently featured on Hello Ghana Magazine digitally for being a Durban Digital Creative. Actually the first young Durban creative to be featured. Their editor Jullie scouted me through my blog and expressed how much she’d love to feature me. For me that’s the biggest. Secondly —— Having a radio segment called: The Dish – Out where I deliver celebritainment news every Saturday’s. I have always wished these things would happen and with hard work they did.
