Nkhensani Nkosi

Nkhensani Nkosi. Photo courtesy timeslive.co.za

Nkhensani Nkosi (née Manganyi) is a woman of many talents.

She first came to the public’s attention as an actress and TV presenter, and later founded iconic fashion brand Stoned Cherrie.

She holds a degree in industrial psychology and sociology from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Nkhensani started Stoned Cherrie at the dawn of the millennium, and it has since developed into a powerful and high-profile South African brand.

It has managed to live up to its vision of growing a cool Afro-centric fashion label that moves perceptions away from traditional beaded skirts and headdresses. It also aims to help change Western perceptions of African fashion.

Stoned Cherrie says of itself: "In an effort to rewrite our history we raised the humble crochet to the catwalk, emblazoned our heroes on T-shirts with the Biko campaign, and sought to transform the way Africans feel about themselves in 21st century Africa."

Nkhensani has won numerous awards, including being the Top Success Story of The Year – Top Women in Business and Government 2005; and the Young Business Achiever of the Year – Young Business Quarterly (2003).

As a successful entrepreneur, television personality, writer and actress, Nkhensani has left her mark on South Africa and made Gauteng proud.