Brave Strong Sexy Unathi

UnathiNkayiis giving us serious body goals. Shes also as real as they come and firmly rooted in her sense of self. The singer, songwriter and Idols judge levels with us about hernoqualmsattitude toageing, her healthy relationship with food and how she gets that waist so snatched.

- Gotlhokwang Angoma-Mzini

Can we take a moment to talk about how Unathi has a better body than many women half her age? “My body is the best it’s ever looked. It looks better than when I played hockey for South Africa. I can stand in front of the mirror and look around and be okay with it,” she declares warmly from the make-up chair at her cover shoot. Her confidence radiates through the room. As we chat, I mentally check off the two times she’s been in our magazine sharing her weight-loss journey. But it’s not only her amazing slimmed-down, toned figure that’s got her here; Unathi is charming, she has grit, she’s a straight-talker and she has a propensity to take on body shamers, Instagram bullies and social injustices in a kind, yet kick-ass, way. And that makes her our kind of cover star. “I haven't really wanted to be on the WH cover,” she confesses. “It was a dream that was too far-fetched because you need to be so damn healthy. On the cover you need to be exemplary in some way.” Well. That was before. Today, she’s ready. She has an ageless beauty that scoffs at turning 40. Yup, that’s right, Unathi’s celebrating her fortieth this November. “Oh yes, I can’t wait!” she roars. “I’ve been 40 in my mind since January. This is a great time. This is a wonderful feeling.”

SHE IS UNAPOLOGETIC

Unathi is used to standing out. “I spent 10 years of my life out of South Africa. I’ve always been a loner, always been different,” she says. Born in Grahamstown, but living in Namibia and then the UK for tracts of her life, Unathi was often in an environment where she was in the minority. “I’ve always had to explain myself. I think that’s where my unapologetic nature came through.” It’s also this experience of being the stranger that gave her a fearless and conquering spirit.