How refreshing is it to speak to someone who knows their worth? Elsa Majimbo is a superstar and she knows it. She carries her confidence with ease as she talks to Bonnie Meslane about her catapult to fame. 

While her rise as a public figure started with her going viral doing comedic skits, eating chips and wearing sleek sunglasses in her bedroom at home in Kenya, the star has evolved to a fashion girlie of note, unapologetically so. 

Elsa now lives in the USA and rubs shoulders with some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

It’s safe to say that she is never going back to bedroom skits. To make sure of this, Nounouche asked her to clarify whether or not people still want her to go back to being that chip eating, sunglass wearing comedic Elsa?

“The fanbase started with that so there’s obviously that whole ‘we miss that old Elsa’ but let me tell you something… she is NOT coming back. The new Elsa is here to stay,” says Elsa, matter-of-factly. That settles it, Elsa Majimbo is booked and busy and paid. 

She describes her journey as one that has evolved over time. 

“What I started doing isn’t what I am doing right now. I started in comedy and I am now mostly in fashion, TV and film. 

Being funny is really hard. I make it look easy, I know. But I woke up one day and I wanted to be pretty for my job…so that’s what I did. I decided then to take a deep dive into the modelling and fashion world and it is going fantastic. That transition has been beautiful. 

I can’t wait for the next era.”

Elsao’s evolution into a fashion and modelling woman wasn’t necessarily something she ever thought she would do. 

“I’ve always admired it and the people who do it. It is not something I thought I would do but I’m glad I am doing it, I love it with all my heart.”

Taking us down memory lane, back home in Kenya, Elsa relates how her upbringing helped shape the person she is today. 

“My mom and dad did a great job raising us (Elsa and her siblings). I think there were a lot of things in Kenya that seemed like a downside growing up that now have an upside in my adult life. Like being dark skinned. There is heavy colourism in Kenya. It is so bad and in Los Angeles (LA), everyone is into my skin and finds it beautiful. I needed to leave in order to grow but I would say in general I needed to be in that environment to be who I am today.”

With colourism being a major issue in many parts of this continent, being a dark skinned person is often represented as less than. Many people have to work that much harder to exist in spaces usually reserved for lighter tones.

What does Elsa think Africans need to do to be more loving and accepting?

“I think people need to hear this; a lot of Africans need to stop kissing white people’s asses. It happens so much – just the other day I was at the store with my friend and the person serving the white people in front of us was so nice and all smiles and then gave attitude to my friend – it all starts with decolonising your mind. If you think people are better than you because of your skin colour then you need to grow.”

Elsa rates her life in the USA as phenomenal, one that is full of amazing experiences since she moved there in 2021.

“My life is phenomenal, it is fantastic. I wake up everyday and say thank you Jesus I am Elsa Majimbo again today. I am happy to be here.  

It is such a beautiful blessing, I am blessed with great friends and an environment where people want to see me grow and thrive. LA is a great place for me.”

Elsa has inspired a lot of women to own who they are, to be proud of who they are, to stand on their values and stand on business. 

Is that something that is more intentional for her to do? To inspire black women?

“Absolutely. I want to inspire and uplift black women. I try my best and my hardest to help whenever I can. If I can take someone to school or pay someone’s rent I will do it. There are so many people who have come from a disadvantaged point and I hold their hand and stay with them. I go through my own shit but they are also going through worse shit.

I am trying my best by putting in the resources and energy that I can into uplifting black women.”

Let’s talk about beauty standards, is it really what it seems or is there more in terms of how darker skinned women are treated over there? 

“I don’t think I have built enough in Hollywood to say anything on that, they might kick me out the door. We are going to wait a couple of years until I am more powerful. But I will say when you are black – in any field – you are treated from a disadvantaged point. But there are some nice people who do put their neck out and really try to speak out.” 

She’s taken the world by storm, collaborating with Valentino, working with Fenty Beauty, and a lot of other brands. What are some of her key highlights?

“Everything that I think is memorable is my own videos, things that I have done. No offence to any of the brands, I love them, love working with them but none of these brands are your friends. When push comes to shove they will leave me. The only brand I truly care about is the Elsa Majimbo brand.”

That’s a lesson right there. 

Some of the challenges Elsa has had as a content creator include being treated as less deserving than other influences purely based on the colour of her skin. 

“I’ve been paid a good amount but I think there is a whole thing for fair pay. Sometimes white people are given perks that black people aren’t. A brand invited me to an event once  and a few hours before the event I saw one of their cars parked by an influencer and after texting my team members to ask when the car was coming to pick me up they said there was no provision of cars for that event but I was literally just looking at a car for that very event. Things like that happen and you have to just take it. I am just one person and I can’t fight a whole system. You have to be inside to fight it. I have to give it a bit more time before I can start discussing how to change things.”

On a lighter note, she gives Nounouche some intel into some of the most famous people in her contact list. 

“I most recently spoke to Rosalía. Oh I love her, love her!”

And the most exciting person to meet for Elsa was none other than the Queen of all queens Beyoncé! 

“Beyoncé! Oh my goodness Beyoncé was the most exciting person to meet. I saw this light skinned lady and I said that looks like Beyoncé! I said Beyoncé I am going to be so shameless and ask for a photo together. She has been so supportive of me my whole career so I absolutely adore her. A lot of industry people have been really nice, which is surprising considering how cold Hollywood is, everyone has been fun and chill.”

Elsa has a thing for South Africa. She has a beautiful relationship with the land and its people and as a people we love her back.  

When was the first time you came to South Africa?

“It is such a weird connection. I have been coming to South Africa since I was a kid, I have been familiar with the country long before the fame. My dad used to bring us and we spent so much time here. And of course the people here made my videos blow up and I have just been a South African patron ever since. They made me famous, they made me rich, what more can a girl ask for,” she giggles with confidence. 

When we talk about celebrities and who she is a major fan of in South Africa, she is quick to share that Cassper Nyovest is her absolute fave. “I love him!”

Elsa’s message to the people who love and support her work and who are always wishing the best for her is: Thank you for being there and understanding me. I know I can be snappy sometimes but people are very understanding. Thank you for supporting me even though I am always saying things like “I am rich, hahaha! Get away from me”. You guys have been the best, because you know that’s just Elsa.”

And while she continues to share stories of her many adventures and fun times living colourfully in the USA, and making sure her rich skin stays nourished and hydrated…her fans and supporters can finish reading this article knowing that an oil range from Elsa Majimbo will definitely drop very soon! Stay tuned!

Cover stars: Elsa Majimbo
Interview: Bonnie Meslane
Story: Mpiletso Motumi
Creative Director & Producer: Bonnie Meslane
Photographer: Henry King (RTC Studios)
Styling: Mpumi Ntintili 
Wardrobe assistant: Amonge Sinxoto 
Makeup: Nono Linchwe @gorgemakeup_za
Hairstylist: Lazola Goddess
Photography Assistant: Tshepo Zitha (RTC Studios)
Lighting Director: Gudani Maswoliedza 
Digitech: Tyrone_Jhns
Production Assistant: Ipeleng Kekana 
Graphic Design: Herbert Chaunzwa & Zolani Stemela
Social media managers: Thandolwethu Khumalo & Kamo Malinga 

Dress: @viviers.studio
Shoes: @europaart

Special thanks to Cartref House for hosting the cover shoot.