Influencer: My teeth almost ruined my career!

INFLUENCERS are often seen as flawless human beings, with curated posts and seemingly perfect lives.

However, beauty influencer Thato Prudence opens up about personal struggles and insecurities many of her followers may not be aware of.

The 29-year-old from Virginia in the Free State admits she once battled with crooked teeth, which made her dread speaking and laughing out loud.

However, her confidence took a turn for the better when she wore braces.

She told Daily Sun confidence is important.

“When you’re confident and love yourself you’re more likely to move forward with opportunities. Confidence gives you courage, resilience, motivation, and a belief in your own ability to succeed.

“On the other hand, self-love motivates you to take risks and say no to things that don’t work. It’s really a key component of building self-compassion. Self-love helps us take care of ourselves. It lowers stress and helps us strive for success,” said Thato.

She said she always wanted to become a model for big-name brands, but it didn’t work out.

“So, I thought maybe I can take pictures and tag the brands, maybe they’ll notice me,” she said.

Thato said she didn’t think content creation would be a full-time job that pays well.

“It made me come out of my shell and build my confidence by shaping online conversations and driving engagement through my heartfelt videos, creative posts, and humour,” she said.

Thato is a tourism student and graduating this year.

“I’ve always wanted to work with L’Oréal Paris because who wouldn’t want to work with that brand? It’s big and they’re more than just a beauty brand. They offer all women and men worldwide best of cosmetics, haircare, and perfume in terms of quality, efficacy, and safety. That brand is literally the best,” she said.