LUPITA IN LOVE!

The Oscar winner has lost her heart to the son of South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela

- NASIFA SULAIMAN

THERE are many things we know about Lupita Nyong’o: she has an Oscar on her mantelpiece, she’s hot Hollywood property and she can light up the red carpet like nobody’s business. 

But her personal life has always been off-limits and shrouded in secrecy. “Privacy is a commodity that’s hard to come by,” the 39-year-old star once said. 

Which is why she refused to comment on rumours she was dating her Black Panther costar Michael B Jordan and why she didn’t address gossip she was getting up close and personal with actor Jared Leto during the 2014 awards season, when she scooped gong after gong for her performance in 12 Years a Slave. 

But love will make you do crazy things. And the Mexican- Kenyan actress has broken her own rules by going public with the new man in her life – a handsome hunk with a wraparound smile who’s the son of one of South Africa’s greatest treasures. 

Lupita announced she’d lost her heart in the most public way possible – on Instagram, where she introduced her “love”, American TV presenter Selema “Sal” Masekela, to her 10,5 million followers just before Christmas. 

Sal reciprocated happily. “Hearts are synced,” he said. “My whole and actual love.” 

And since then, things seem to be going from strength to strength. Here’s everything we know about the Lupita and Sal love story. 

LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT 

Sal (51), son of the late SA music legend Hugh Masekela, has had his eye on Lupita since 2016. He took to Twitter during a flight to ask for help on what to say to her if he could pluck up the courage to introduce himself.