When Nomzamo Mbatha reflects on her historic appointment as Creme of Nature’s first-ever South African ambassador, there’s a moment of genuine disbelief in her voice.

“It’s crazy,” she says, laughing at the magnitude of what this milestone represents not just for her career, but for the broader conversation around natural hair and African beauty.

The actress, humanitarian, and beauty ambassador embodies everything the global haircare brand stands for: authenticity, natural radiance, and an unshakeable connection to heritage.

For Nomzamo, this partnership feels like a natural alignment with values she’s championed throughout her career. “It feels like a great honour that a brand as big as this that has had incredible global success when it comes to the continent can be able to resonate with somebody like me,” Mbatha explains. “It means that I am aligning to the ethics of natural beauty, of radiance, of self-confidence, of authenticity and individuality.”

Nomzamo’s relationship with her hair tells a story many African women will recognise, one of evolution, experimentation, and ultimately, acceptance. Unlike the usual narrative of transitioning to natural hair later in life, Nomzamo reveals that she has always embraced her kinky, coily texture, viewing it as a tool for creative expression.

“I’ve always loved my hair in its kinky, coily state, you know, as close to natural as possible,” she shares. “I think it’s only in recent times when I’ve started playing around with weaves, which has been such an interesting thing for people to receive.”

The reaction to her hair experiments reveals the complex relationship society still has with black women’s hair choices. Despite her natural hair advocacy, some have questioned her authenticity when she opts for protective styles or experiments with different textures. But for Nomzamo, this exploration is part of embracing the full spectrum of African beauty.

“I’ve always been one who loves to play with my hair and the texture of my hair and also explore the idea of African beauty,” she explains. “Now I know that there’s certain lengths that I’ll never get to. So I’m like, OK, let’s play with this kind of fibre.”

Her approach to her hair is intentional– she jokes that she might have been a hairstylist in a past life, often being so specific about her hair needs that stylists “just roll their eyes.”

This hands-on relationship with her hair reflects a deeper understanding of her hair and what it needs.

A pivotal moment in Mbatha’s hair journey came in 2019 with her first major big chop as an adult. Sitting in the salon chair, she experienced a revelation that many natural hair enthusiasts will understand: “God, I can see my face.”

It was a moment of rediscovering herself, of seeing her features unframed and unfiltered. But even as the natural hair movement has gained momentum, Mbatha acknowledges that the journey isn’t without its challenges.

“I still experience pushback and criticism for my hair choices,” she shares. The criticism continues, particularly when she pushes boundaries with bold, voluminous styles. “Even though natural hair is being embraced, I do think there’s a huge push in terms of wigs and lace and all of that. That’s still a very big conversation in terms of what is perceived as beauty.”

As Creme of Nature’s first South African ambassador, Nomzamo hopes her appointment will inspire young Black women to develop healthier relationships with their hair. Her message goes beyond aesthetics to focus on education and community support.

“We need to have a better relationship with our hair. We need to lean into community and lean into the other girls who are teaching us about high porosity, low porosity, LCO, LOC,” she emphasises, referencing the technical aspects of hair care that previous generations weren’t taught.

The actress recognises that many women inherit complicated relationships with their hair from childhood, often without the knowledge needed to properly care for their unique texture. “Your hair belonged to your parents. And by the time you formed an identity, the hair that you were given as a child, you had to decide, do I like it? Do I not like it?”

Nomzamo’s philosophy around beauty, whether hair or skin, centres on health rather than perfection. This approach aligns perfectly with her advocacy work and humanitarian efforts, where she consistently promotes realistic, achievable standards.

“I never speak about perfection, I speak about health,” she explains. “We’re not aiming for perfect hair, because what you deem as perfect is different from what I may deem as perfect. But healthy can be able to be the middle ground that we can all find ourselves in.”

This philosophy extends to her expectations of beauty brands. When Creme of Nature speaks about celebrating “radiance, roots, heritage, and identity,” Nomzamo expects them to “stand on business with that.” For her, authentic brand partnerships require genuine conversation rather than one-sided marketing speak.

What excites Nomzamo most about Creme of Nature’s expansion into the African market is the opportunity for localization without losing global perspective. The brand has always celebrated textured hair, but now the question becomes: “What does that look like and what does that sound like to the African woman, the global African woman?”

This global-local dynamic reflects Nomzamo’s own position as an international figure who remains deeply rooted in her South African identity. “Because we’re also global,” she notes, acknowledging the diaspora’s influence on beauty standards worldwide.

Her pride is unmistakable when asked what it means to move through the world feeling fully authentic and rooted in heritage, Nomzamo’s response is immediate and proud: “Pride. Unshakeable pride. No one can ever tell me who I am. I get to tell the world first who I am.”

This statement reflects not just her personal philosophy but the broader message she hopes to send through her ambassadorship. In a world where Black women’s hair continues to be policed and politicized, Nomzamo Mbatha’s appointment represents more than a business partnership, it’s a declaration of value, authenticity, and the beauty of natural texture.

As Creme of Nature’s first South African ambassador, Nomzamo Mbatha isn’t just representing a brand; she’s championing a movement toward hair health, community education, and the celebration of African beauty in all its diverse expressions. Her message is clear: embrace your crown, invest in its health, and wear it with unshakeable pride.