Before there were social media influencers. Before the likes of Minnie Dlamini, Bonang Matheba and other well-known media personalities became big, there was Nonhle Thema.
The actress, model and TV presenter, who is the daughter of former Muvhango actress Cynthia Shange, was “hip and happening” – as they would say in her time.
Between 2007 and 2011, the name Nonhle Thema was synonymous with trendy, beauty and talent. She was one of the go-to people for all things entertainment on our TV screens as a presenter on O-Access on Channel O and V-Entertainment on Vuzu. Her job was every girl’s dream as she would interview some of the biggest stars locally and internationally, subsequently landing her own reality show titled Nonhle Goes to Hollywood in 2011 and later on a docu-reality series Reality Check.
Nonhle had the world as her oyster; bagging lucrative endorsement deals as the face of hair straightener, Dark n Lovely, and other car manufacturers.HER FALL FROM GRACE
However, it all came crumbling down when she got cancelled before the term “cancel culture” became a thing. Nonhle’s fall from grace came in 2011 after a public meltdown on Twitter where she called herself “god” amongst other things.
During her tirade, Nonhle engaged with Twitter trolls, bragged about having money and even told her industry folks that she could afford to pay all their salaries. At the time, popularised the term “Sit Down” as an obscene way of dismissing people she did not like.
As such, Nonhle lost her endorsement deals and basically disappeared from the small screen.
She later made a comeback on Mzansi Magic’s defunct telenovela, Zabalaza, in 2013.
In 2015, she addressed her meltdown in an interview with Gareth Cliff on Cliff Central: “I find it quite ridiculous. Those figures are such an exaggeration. I must’ve been in such a bad place and I’m glad I’m out of it. That was a very insecure and very hurt young girl who felt like no one appreciated all the hard work she was doing.”
She admitted she was suicidal and insecure at the time.
“I was suicidal at that point. I was very suicidal. I had people encouraging my death. I used to lie in my bed and tell my mom I don’t want to get up. I don’t want to live any more. There’s no point. I lost weight. I was not eating. I was depressed. I was shattered. I was feeling like I can’t go on…I felt dead inside.”According to the academy’s website, it aims at grooming, coaching and equipping individuals to become better versions of themselves. The academy offers classes in beauty pageant preparation, personal branding, acting, TV presenting, public speaking and more.
She is also a “woman of prayer” – as per her Instagram. In 2018, it was reported that she was training to become a pastor.
The former “it” girl is raising her daughter, Star Phoenix Ivy, who was born in 2012. She shares her daughter with her ex-husband, Arthur Bolton – a British-born musician and businesman. The former couple tied the knot in 2013 and seperate in 2014. Their seperation was public and messy on social media as they slammed and dragged each other.