Born and bred in Gqeberha, Motherwell - Yolanda Monqo is a Bsc in Dietetics student at NMU, studying to be a professional dietitian. “I have always been cautious about what I eat and curious about human nutrition. So since in high school I was really good with math and science I thought of doing something that would merge the two into a career path, and Dietetics seemed like a perfect match and it's still going good. Now I can't wait to be qualified as I look forward to give professional nutritional advise to help people in the next few years".
When did you commence with Beauty By Landa as a makeup brand and what inspired you to start? “I started doing make up around the age of 15, just when I started doing grade 11. I wanted to look pretty in ways I've never seen myself before and I used makeup as an escape. I used to watch make up tutorials online and create looks I thought would look amazing, and that was my 'me' time with no interruptions, and no books”, she giggled. "I officially started Beauty by Landa in my matric year, 2020 - inspired by the life I want to live and the places I want to go to, hence the start of my business, to create income stream as soon as I can”.
What do you love and enjoy about the makeup work and where do you see yourself in 5yrs time? “When doing makeup especially on myself, it is the time I get to block out the pressures of the world and just be creative and challenge myself to get better each time. Makeup is the most exciting and nerve wreaking work ever. Getting new different and beautiful faces to transform is quite a challenge but that's what I love about it, each time I meet someone new and make them feel more beautiful it is everything to me, I wouldn't trade it for the world. As they say, "When you doing something you love, it doesn't feel like you are working. In 5yrs time I see myself having my own beauty salon. where not only make up is offered but nail art, hair, all the works like a prestigious spar in the hood (Ekasi). I would love my sisters to also be part of that. I just want to bring the 5-star beauty pampering to the townships, where I was raised".
When not busy with studies and Beauty By Landa, what do you do to keep sane? “Calling & video calling my sisters just to annoy them and joke around. They are my world, they are the people I relate to the most in this world, and they just keep me sane. After my mother died in 2015 they held my hand and kept me going and they still do. Also listening to music and taking walks”.
Any message to your peers about the importance of starting your own hustle? “I would advise my peers that the world we live in now is upside down and no one is coming to rescue you from a difficult financial situation you're in right now but yourself. Start something of your own, multiple streams of income is key".