HER OWN BIGGEST FAN

COMEDIAN, ACTOR, POTATO CHIP MUNCHER AND CHESS CHAMPION – ELSA MAJIMBO’S JUST GETTING STARTED. THE MULTI-TALENTED STAR TALKS TO GQ ABOUT COUTURE COLLABS AND BUILDING YOUR BRAND

- Walter Hayward

PREVIOUS SPREAD, LEFT TO RIGHT Swan bralet made from upcycled bondage wear and H&M Home wall mounts POR, upcycled pants from Vintage Oath made into a skirt POR; shoes R13 250 Jimmy Choo

Blazer R4 139 and pants R2 679 both Desigual; jewellery POR Swarovski

Blazer R64 500 and skirt R32 350 both Giorgio Armani; sunglasses R4 250 Prada

Dress R1 200 Imprint ZA; pink slip on sandals R22 195 Versace; necklace POR Pichulik

IT’S BEEN A WILD RIDE for social media sensation Elsa Majimbo. The 20-year-old Kenyan’s meteoric rise over the past year has birthed several lucrative collabs, not to mention the absolute wealth of hilarious content. If you haven’t been sent a video of hers on Instagram, do you even have friends?

‘It’s almost like a dream, but I try not to live in that feeling as I have to work very hard to keep winning.’ Her dedication has won her deals with industry leaders, the likes of Valentino, Fenty and Bumble. ‘I have moments now and again when it sinks in. I value those, but I know there’s so much work to do and I’m only getting started.’

Yet, she almost failed to launch. Majimbo’s parents wanted a more conventional life for her that didn’t involve any comedic content. ‘Most African parents share one comical commonality, and that’s that they all want us to have traditional, safe and respectable jobs and life trajectories. My path is different, so it was stressful for my parents at first.’ Luckily, they came around when she proved she knew what she was doing. ‘They finally see the magnitude of what my career has become and where it’s going. Having them on board means a lot to me – even though they don’t think I’m funny!’