SKY Magazine Issue 32

skygirlsbw FOR TEEN GIRLS ONLY

JULY 2022 | FREE COPY

Winter Fashion

@naledisteph06

How to be an influencer with

Tumie Nthutang @waone.m @its_brrr

Music with

Marang Selolwane

A look into

Sure Ka Rafiwa Re Shapo Ka…

Re Sure Ka… Passing exams Our talents Mental Health

@lett.iee

Peer pressure Smoking Cyberbullying

@kopano.kabiii

The

INFLUENCER Edition

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skygirlsbw

What is SKY? SKY is a sisterhood of teenage girls all across Botswana that supports, empowers, and celebrates being true to ourselves. Becoming a SKY girl means taking the pledge to define your Sures (things you love) and Shapos (things you don’t need in your life).

What sets SKY girls apart?

We are not swayed by peer pressure, instead, we make choices that are true to ourselves and we stick to them. Whatever our Sures and Shapos are, we stand by them, because those choices define us, and make each one of us unique. Any teenage girl can become a SKY Gir - all you have to do is take the pledge by defining your personal Sures and Shapos, and stay true to yourself!

Take the SKY Pledge today to unlock competitions, prizes and exclusive event invites!

How do I take the pledge?

SKY Pledge

I pledge to be true to myself and what I believe in.

To be confident in who I am, and not let anyone define me.

I will say Sure Ka Yone to the things I am all about - like music, friendship and my future.

I will say Shapo Ka Yone to the things I am good without - like negative vibes, smoking and peer pressure.

I will make choices that are true to me.

I pledge to define my SKY.

Kangaroos can’t walk backwards

Where can I find sky?

SOCIALS

Inbox us on our Facebook page @skygirlsbw with the following details: your name, surname, date of birth, location, 3 Sures and 3 Shapos! We will get right back to you to confirm you are now officially a SKY Girl, and you can start getting the benefits of being a member of SKY Girls!

@skygirlsbw @skygirlsbw @skygirlsbw @skygirlsbw 76 224 437 (message only)

Magazine!

3 times a year, delivered to your school

Radio!

SKY Live on RB2, Saturdays 12.30 – 1pm

TV!

The Mix – Magazine show on our YouTube channel and BTV Sure Ka Rafiwa – New TV sitcom on our YouTube channel and BTV

Events!

Keep checking our socials for news :)

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CONTENTS 12 Fashion: Red Carpet Looks 14 Cover Feature: Teen Influencers 20 SKY Short Story

22 Interview With… Tumie Nthutang 24 A Look Into The Mix

4 Editor's Note

8

5 SKY Spotlight 6 Body Beautiful

8 Music: Marang Selolwane's Playlist 10 Fashion: Winter in 4 Styles

12

22

32 The Quiz: Which Influencer Are You? 33 Puzzles and Games 34 Inspirational Quotes 35 Reflection Section

26 Sure Ka Rafiwa with Isago Molefe 28 Over The Influence 30 What To Do If… 31 Chicken Burger Reviews

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Cows don’t have front upper teeth

Gao ne

Lu d

Ale s

Ke m

He a

Ke sure ka self-love, happiness, self-confidence Ke shapo ka negativity, rude people, lying

Ke sure ka dreaming big, faith, baking Ke shapo ka negativity, comparison, judgment

Ke sure ka my talent, my vision, my best friends Ke shapo ka negativity, cold weather, fake friends

Ke sure ka creativity, chasing my dreams, always staying true to me

Tu ts

Ke shapo ka not believing in myself, bad vibes, smoking ole - Wri te ith r iS

Ke sure ka self-discipline, kindness, financial freedom

La ro

Ke shapo ka self-sabotage, dishonesty, tobacco

abe - W lekg ri na

Ke sure ka good food, sneakers, confident vibes Ke shapo ka smoking (obviously), bullying,

Rab ie

entitlement

atlhakwana am R

Ke sure ka dancing, content creation, adventures Ke shapo ka entitlement, hubbly, littering

Williams- W ka r ai

M al

r ite

Ke sure ka dancing, adventures and Nachos :) Ke shapo ka entitlement,

a - Short s to lom r Se

iter wr

Ama ntl e

vaping, Fanta

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Octopuses have 3 hearts

Monare - I er llu th

r rite W

Ludo Kgatlhegang xx

gotso - De Se si

r te

SKY nation, I could go on and on about what to expect in this issue but it's best you guys read for yourself!!

o

or rat st

We know gore Bots has 2 seasons, re na le selemo le mariga. Selemo se tsamaile and mariga a simolotse, a le a ipaakanyeditse? If not, don't worry we gotchu covered ka our winter fashion feature. Speaking of fashion, the red carpet ya the Sure Ka Rafiwa launch event is also covered bo La La. I'm so excited that Sure Ka Rafiwa is finally airing on BTV - I don’t want to say too much because if you haven’t watched it yet I don’t wanna spoil it for you - but we have Rafiwa herself AKA Isago Molefe featured in this issue. A new season of The Mix is also out and I can't wait for you guys to watch. I truly had fun shooting. Being able to film the Pink Couch Sessions was thrilling since the girls and I were able to voice our opinions on different topics. One of my favourite topics I discussed with Lez and Bonolo was how we could all stay true to ourselves. Bathong nako e fetile ka sepeti, just 2 seconds ago we were all in lockdown and I'm sure we all handled it differently, jiki jiki we have all these fresh and stunning influencers mo bo TikTok, YouTube, and IG, and they’re gracing our cover. Get to know them a bit more inside.

ra Sbrana nd D sa

er gn

There is so much power in positive influence. From being there for your friends and family, to being your own positive influence, and even being kind to strangers online. I believe in spreading love everywhere. It may be hard sometimes but learning and growing are what life is about! In this issue of SKY Magazine, we wanted to highlight love, positive influence, and being true. We have so much for you in this issue that I can’t wait to tell you guys about!

atlhegang Kg

er ign es

It’s your girl Lulu, one of the presenters of The Mix. I’m so honoured to be writing this. I hope you’re ready ‘cause I’m about to spill the tea you guys have been longing for. It is piping, whew! This issue is about influence: the good, the bad and the ugly. I believe that any and all influence you impart should be positive. In a world where many trends can be a negative influence on you, knowing how to stay true to yourself is key. It can be tempting when a friend is doing something you don’t want to do, but it’s important to know that resisting peer pressure gets you more respect in the end, from yourself and others. Set and remember your boundaries in certain situations, rona ko SKY re sticka to knowing gore re sure ka eng, re shapo ka eng.

o

r ito Ed

Hey SKY Nation!

Ke sure ka kindness, Clarke Griffin, summer Ke shapo ka smoking, being broke, misogyny

Cover Photography by: Image Lounge | Inside Photography by: Kgolo Construct & Raymond Geofrey | Group Cover photoshoot location: Sanitas Nursery & Garden Centre | SKY Girls BW is managed by: The Dialogue Group

skygirlsbw

atong - Chie an f M

r ito Ed

Editor’s Note

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Issue 30 Con ibutors

Ke sure ka education, honesty, God Ke shapo ka living to impress, backstabbing, dishonesty

SKY SPOTLIGHT

nt! unch Eve afiwa La R the 10s a K to ed re ss Su bs were dre Ka Rafiwa! le ce d an to Sure Our cast eak peak in for their sn

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SKY Pop-Ups! KhoiSan hung out with SKY Girls at Galo Mall in Ghetto, and Jordan MoOzy swung by at Rail Park

Our new New SKY M er SKY me rch is h ch! it at ou ere!! Yo r mall p u can w op-up in competi tions on s or through our soc ials!

The Mix Se ason 3 We went BI GGER and BE TTER for this season, all for our SK Y girlies!

e Song fiwa Them Sure Ka Ra hears it LOVES it u Anyone who ly! Have yo immediate rics yet? ly e th ed memoris

& Greet rez Meet Taylor Pe we were b, ix to B-du From Netfl ylor right in Ta ng ei se at SCREAMING of our eyes!! front

Denim Day w ith Bot Our lov swana and Lucara ely SKY An movin L ive pre gel!! g spee c h in su senter gave and su pport o a rvivors f victim of se Denim s Day ko xual assault k Mogod itshane a .

Tag us on TikTok! us ing all your content! Tag see E LOV We being of nce cha a for ’ bw ‘@skygirls platforms. featured on any of our

Roosters have a built-in earplug

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6

Body Beautiful

Since this issue is all about influencers, this edition of ‘Body Beautiful’ is all about how to recognise your own beauty without comparing yourself to others, and how to love yourself for who you are.

As teenagers growing up in the world of social media and filters, it is very easy to get swept up in trying to imitate what our favourite influencers look like. This can seriously affect our self-esteem, increase FOMO and also create anxiety. The truth is that people only show the sides of themselves they want the world to see online. They want you to see how beautiful they looked at an event, how amazing their holidays are, and to show off clothes and beauty products that you probably can’t afford.

How to be as beautiful as an influencer (pssst: you already are!)

The truth is that people only show the sides of themselves they want the world to see #NoFilter – too good to be true Have you ever looked at someone online and thought ‘wow, she looks so beautiful! I want to look just like that!’? Well, that’s an unfair comparison. These days, many people use apps to alter their appearance before posting online. There are apps that can smoothen or lighten your skin, make eyes larger, give defined jawlines…the list goes on. Whatever insecurity someone has, they can ‘fix’ it at the click of a button. And it is unfair for you to compare yourself to someone who has used these filters. This is why it is important to choose wisely the people you look up to online. Choose to follow people who stay true to themselves and don’t conform to social media standards because they will in turn make you feel good about yourself.

What is beauty anyway?

One of the problems with ‘beauty’ is that it is a social construct.

That means there is no real, TRUE definition of what is beautiful and what isn’t – society makes it up as we go along, and beauty trends change. But the problem is we can’t change our bodies to suit trends, so if you have a body shape that is not currently ‘trending’, you might feel bad about yourself.

Currently there’s a trend for ‘slim thick’ bodies, which are unusual in real life. So, as you scroll your feed and see so many women with similar body shapes, remember that that’s not

An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain

reality; most women DON’T look like that and that’s totally fine!

Whatever your body shape, it’s working for you and no one can tell you it’s ‘wrong’. Learning to love the body you’re in is an achievable goal; changing your body shape to suit the current trend is not. Last but not least—the way you treat others, your kindness, your confidence, your botho, enhances your beauty.

Embrace your Black Girl Magic Another harmful beauty misconception that we were taught is that Eurocentric features are the accepted standards for beauty.

This is when we are led to believe that ‘white’ features like being light skinned and having straight hair define beauty. We know there’s a lot of colourism in our own communities which is also perpetuated by mainstream media. Our melanated selves are beautiful with our skin colour and our thick kinky hair! The way to deal with this weird pressure is to accept and celebrate our natural selves. As black girls, let’s compliment each other and dismantle the system trying to make us hate who we are. Spread positive vibes about the black girl magic.

Don’t compare yourself to professionals Influencer marketing is a job. Because social media can be a significant source of income, for many influencers it is literally their job, and they’re really good at it! That means that they spend a lot of time (and money) on their content, making it planned and polished. While it may feel like we should be able to easily recreate their beautiful, carefree photos, we’ll soon find out that a curated Instagram feed takes a lot of work, sometimes by an entire team including photographers and editors, not just an individual. The trendy clothes, the make-up, the nails, sometimes even the nice wigs– these are things not every teenage girl can afford, so why pressure ourselves to get them? No stress bo babes, wena just stay true to you.

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Learning to love the body you’re in is an achievable goal; changing your body shape to suit the current trend is not.

Not everything is as it seems It’s important to remember that influencers are careful about what parts of their lives they share and how they present it.

Influencers and content creators usually share the best things about their lives and not as much as the less glamourous parts.

All the work they put in can create beautiful social media accounts, but it doesn’t always represent reality. So don’t take everything you see on social media as truth and try to avoid comparing yourself to others online (and in the real world too – re sure ka wena just as you are!)

Don’t BUY into it We see influencers as inspirational figures and even friends, but companies see them as advertising platforms. Many influencers recommend products and services they genuinely love, but remember that seeing a recommendation of a product from an influencer you like is just a type of advert. The Kardashians have been sued for promoting dangerous diet products that don’t work - and remember, a lot of the time the influencers don’t even use that particular product! So don’t rush out to buy a product that’s not on your budget just because an influencer recommended it to you – you might end up disappointed.

Reality Check The sad truth is that some influencers can become very insecure because of being in the spotlight (due to negative comments about their bodies or because they feel pressure to present as ‘perfect’), and they start filtering and photoshopping themselves to a point where we can’t even recognise them.

Some influential people like Zendaya have challenged magazines to not photoshop their pictures to the extent that they are unrecognizable. Check out the images on the left; you can see some of the tell-tale signs a photo has been edited to make the person look as ‘good as possible’. So next time you see someone ‘beautiful’ on social media, you’ll feel a bit better knowing it’s probably too good to be true!

Koalas feed their newborns poop

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Marang

skygirlsbw

For this issue, we asked SKY Big Sister and popular influencer Marang what’s on her music playlist.

From tunes that make her wanna dance to her all-time favourites! Let’s check it out.

Ke Sure ka: K e S h a p o K a : • studying • saying ‘no’ • going for my dreams

• smoking • bad friends • not working hard

About Marang

The song that always makes me dance…

It has to be “Jola” by De Mthuda. It’s been one of my favourite songs since its release. It’s been out for over 6 months now and I just cannot seem to get over it! It’s also my and my daughter’s favourite song so it’s very sentimental to me. We play it in the car, at home and I also play it for her when she is in a bit of a funk.

The song I know all the lyrics to….

Marang Selolwane (née Molosiwa) rose to national acclaim at the tender age of 11 as a presenter at Botswana Television. Since then, she has developed into a drama and film practitioner, university lecturer and digital content creator.

Marang holds an Honours Degree in Drama and Film from WITS University and has been active in the media and entertainment industry for 20 years.

“From Time” by Drake ft. Jhené Aiko, I love that song so much because I’m such a huge fan of both artists. It also reminds me of when I was still dating my then boyfriend, now husband - it was one of the songs we would listen to quite often. It’s such a masterpiece, I used to abuse that song when it came out. It’s one of those songs that I listen to once in a while because it’s incredibly sentimental to me, I love it!

She has worked with an array of corporate companies as well as government entities in Botswana as master of ceremonies, influencer, adjudicator, speaker and brand influencer. She is one of Botswana's most followed personalities with a strong media presence.

My favourite local song of all time…

Marang’s content takes her audience on a journey of how as a young professional she navigates motherhood and marriage all while discovering her God-given purpose.

Chocolate can kill dogs

This is such a difficult one for me because I’m a fan of local music, especially local hip hop—Zeus, Scar, Veezo, Ban-T, Mane Dilla, just to name a few. I will say though off the top of my head, my favourite local song has to be “Real Bad” by Licky ft. the late Dramaboi. It’s such a lyrically powerful song

9 speaking about motivation. It’s rooted in inspiration and it's one of those songs that reminds you how difficult the journey of success can be and the different challenges that you will experience, but if you want it real bad you will flourish.

The song that makes me remember my childhood…

Vusi Mahlasela’s “Silang Mabele”—It takes me back to our mini road trip vibes with my dad across Botswana and at times into Zimbabwe, accompanying him on his work trips. My dad is a geologist and hydrophysicist so through his job he spends a lot of time outdoors at different sites and we used to go on these trips with him. I remember we would be in one of our bakkies and we would be laying on a mattress at the back while he played those songs - it was such a beautiful time creating memories with our dad.

The song I would want played at my funeral…

A classic house song called “This is Goodbye” by Hollis P Monroe. It’s a song I have loved since forever. I am such a fan of house music; I think if you follow my social media, especially my Instagram stories, I play a lot of old school house music or classic house songs.

The lyrics do not necessarily match a funeral scene but it’s just one of my all-time favourite house songs. I do not think much about my death or funeral but if I were to pick a song for sure it would be that and I know that my cousins would definitely play it because they know me through and through.

The song that defines love…

Daniel Caesar - “Get you”. It’s such a beautiful song lyrically, and I love the melody and the instruments.

It’s one of those songs that I really enjoy listening to with my husband. It gives you a perfect description of what love is. No matter what you are going through, you love that person, and you will go to the ends of the earth to be with them and feel their presence and love, and that person is all you need. I believe that in life you get one person who you experience untainted and unconditional love with, and this song describes that perfect feeling.

The song that cheers me up when I am sad…

The best song to play at a party…

Right now, it has to be any amapiano song. Currently I am loving “Paris” by Q-Mark, it’s such a fun song.

Wherever you go, whether it’s a shop, club or restaurant, they are playing Paris - I think amapiano has really done well across Africa and the world. I also think a lot of people would agree with me that if you drop an amapiano song, wherever you are, everyone will get up and dance.

The song I’ve played most this month…

At the moment I have 2 songs— “Rain on me” and “Woza Moya” by Artwork Sounds. Again, I am a deep house lover so obviously my most streamed songs will be house music. Artwork Sounds are a South African duo making incredible deep house music in the era of amapiano. I love their sound, and I love that they are taking us back to the house that I fell in love with, the familiar sound that gives me a nostalgic feeling.

The song I secretly love that is totally out of character…

Most definitely has to be “Let It Go” from the Frozen soundtrack and that’s because my daughter loves this song so much she has been playing it for the past year now it has grown on me. It used to annoy me but I find myself listening to it when she is not around and singing along to the lyrics, so I really enjoy it and a couple of other songs from animation movies because of her. They are just fun, innocent and easy to sing along to.

“Lost in Paris” by Tom Misch, a British artist. I really just love his music, anything by him gets me up and gets me going. I think he is an amazing producer and lyricist that makes really beautiful music. He is just one of those artists that has a song for every mood, so when I’m feeling low, I just listen to his music and get myself back in the right mood.

All polar bears are left-handed

10 skygirlsbw

Winter Fashion, Some people find it hard to look stylish in general, mariga go itirelwa hela re tshaba serame bathong. But even fashionistas struggle to stay warm and well dressed in winter. With all the crazy winter items in the stores, we wanted to give you a little inspo on what to wear this upcoming season, in four different styles! Remember, some winter styles can be DIY’ed using your big brother’s old jumpers or cousin’s sweaters they don’t wear any more, and so on. Check out some DIYs on our TikTok for more inspiration on winter fashion this season. Gorgeous gorgeous girls save up ka DIY! For a day when you’re anticipating a little warmth later, being able to take off what’s keeping you warm easily is ideal. A cute Ed Sheeran shirt, Mr Price boots, plus two-tone jeans make this a nice look! Not to mention the silver jewellery and black lip that finish it all off. This is perfect for hanging out at the mall with your friends. If you aren’t feeling all the fuzz on that cardigan, you could wear a stripy, long-sleeved shirt under the graphic tee for an extra e-girl look.

Shirt: Cotton On P300 Jeans: Chinese store P300 Cardigan: Chinese store P150 Shoes: Mr Price P200 Accessories: Mr Price and Legit P50

Sweatshirt: Legit P140 Skirt: Mr Price P160 Tights: Pep P20 Shoes: Studio 88 P600 Accessories: Legit & Mr Price P40

For all the girls in the back that love cute and simple, this one is for you! A small pair of hoop earrings and a little pleated skirt plus a sweatshirt is so cute. You can wear anything in winter with tights!

Top it off with bright white sneakers and we have something. Feels like a winter picnic or café day type of fit. Want to be extra warm or dress it up a little more? Get a cute little handbag, a nice trench coat or thicker tights underneath your skirt.

The longest English word is 189,819 words

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Everybody loves a pair of killer shoes put together with a mini-skirt. Not to mention a red and black combo. If you borrow your brother’s soccer socks and find a puffer jacket and bottleneck, this look could be on you. Not a fan of skirts? Wear it with leather pants or nice jeans cuffed at the ankles. You can also throw in a pair of sneakers if o le shapo ka heels. It’s giving Insta baddie, especially with the glasses.

Top: Chinese Stores P55 Skirt: Legit P180 Jacket: The Fix P300 Shoes: The Fix P310 Tights: Pep P20 Accessories: Chinese Stores & Mr Price P70

A tomboy look for sho. We have a sweatshirt, sweatpants, Jordans, a beanie and a little chain. Not too much but definitely not too little. This combo will have you all swagged up! It’s great for when you want to look both cool and casual. Maybe waa tswa to chill with the squad. You can do something similar with boyfriend jeans, a hoodie and simple sneakers. Swag is more about how you carry yourself. This is perfect for those times.

Sweatshirt: Legit P140 Skirt: Mr Price P160 Tights: Pep P20 Shoes: Studio 88 P600 Accessories: Legit and Mr Price P40

Photography by Raymond Geofrey, Styling by Tutsirai Sithole, Model Neo Phologa

Shadows are darker on moon

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SURE KA RAFIWA

skygirlsbw

ON THE

RED CARPET It was all glitz and glamour at our Sure Ka Rafiwa launch event! Our guests dressed to impress and our show did the rest! The night consisted of red carpet photo moments and interviews, a TikTok station, a stocked snack bar, and a whole cinema reserved just for SKY!

Isago, Tshego and Arona Our main characters were the main attraction for real! Tshego (Minkie) looked stunning in her deep blue velvet & sequin dress.

Arona (Seneo) meant serious business, and that’s business-chic, in her gorgeous fitted lime green blazer. And of course Isago (Rafiwa) showed out, in her beautiful babydoll silhouette black mini!

Lezozo, Lez & Gimhani

Lone & Oats Cows can walk upstairs not down them

Batho

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OUR GUESTS were met on the red carpet by the lively Lezozo & Lez duo! Our co-hosts are pictured with Miss Teen

International Botswana 2021, Gimhani. She started out as a SKY Girl, just like us! We loved their individual takes on the theme, they definitely kept it true to themselves!

We were SCREAMING at the chance to hang out with some of our fave local TikTok creators! Lone (@lonebotshelo) and Otsile (@african_oats) were in sync; they both turned up rocking white and shining bright! Their mini-vlogs captured all the Hollywood glamour the night had to offer.

What a pair!

Sadi

Another of our show’s stars Batho (who plays Boleng) spiced up a casual white shirt look with an eye-catching patterned scarf! He paired this accent piece with a thick belt and chain, which really ties the whole outfit together! We completely understand why Boleng gets Rafiwa all heart-eyed whenever she sees him!

Theo & Gofaone Naomi

Our SKY Big Sister Sadi held it down as our MC for the night, both on the mic and on the red carpet. Her rose-gold ensemble totally highlighted her regal aura and personality. And we LOVE that you can always catch her rocking her SKY Girls wristband whenever she goes!

Theo (who plays Obakeng) cleaned up quite nicely for a big brother! His lavender pants were such a subtle statement & added a twist to the typical men’s fashion wear.

Gofaone (who plays Older Rafiwa) took our breath away with her delicate baby-pink trench coat dress. This pair goes together like butter on bread!

We love a SKY Girl that can hold her own!

Naomi, who features on Sure Ka Rafiwa as an extra, lit up the red carpet in a bright yellow two-piece, and her only competition was her smile. Re rata gore. The feathers on the train of her skirt added that accentuating POP!

Nora

SKY Gloss partner Nora of NORA Cosmetics swept us off our feet, like a magical SKY pink hurricane! From her sequinned curtain mask, to her floor-length shoulder drapes and stellar model poses, we just couldn’t stop being at awe every time she walked by. Dare we say, best dressed of the evening?

There’s enough gold inside earth to coat the planet

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TEEN

skygirlsbw

This issue of SKY is all about influence.

The influence we have over others, and the influence others have over us. The good and the bad! Influence has always existed but now in the era of social media, there’s a new type of person on the rise - the social media influencer. From comedy videos to musical skits, from dances to storytimes, we are viewing a lot of content made by influencers these days, and many of the influencers are just like us - young, normal people who happen to have huge followings.

We caught up with five of Botswana’s brightest teenage influencer stars to see what it’s like to be in the spotlight, and to influence others. Let’s go!

Letang Gaotswake, 19 Influencer/Content Creator Ke Sure Ka: Good content Self-confidence Good vibes Ke Shapo Ka: Bad vibes Fake friends Negative peer pressure

No number before 1000 contains the letter A

Stephinah Naledi Sebina, 20 TikTok Content Creator Ke Sure Ka: TikTok Instagram Education Ke Shapo Ka: Smoking Alcohol Backstabbing

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Waone Mokobo, 18

Bridget Gothaang, 18

Kopano Kgabi, 17

Ke Sure Ka: Good vibes Success Education

Ke Sure Ka: God Good vibes Positivity

Ke Sure Ka: God Spreading love Inspiring others

Ke Shapo Ka: Negativity Tshele Smoking

Ke Shapo Ka: Smoking Fake friends Bringing people down

Ke Shapo Ka: Smoking Alcohol Negativity

TikTok Content Creator

Influencer/The Mix Presenter

Content Creator, Artist, Model

Roller Coasters were invented to distract Americans from sin

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High heels were first invented for men

17 How and when did you start creating content? Kopano: Funnily enough I didn’t think of myself as an Bridget: When I was 15, back in 2020.

Naledi: I started creating TikToks in 2019 and it was just for fun. I could even go months without posting. Then one time I checked my account and found that I had a lot of followers and views on my videos. It was a simple Cardi B video and then after that I started taking it more seriously and have been creating content and gaining more followers ever since.

Letang: From a young age I’ve always liked taking pictures and I used to create fake YouTube videos using an old PC we had at home. Over time I grew more fond of making videos and taking pictures. And then in late 2019 I started my YouTube channel, from there I ventured into Instagram and I haven’t looked back.

Waone: I started creating content in 2016 when I was still in standard 7 but I made an official TikTok account in 2019. And then last year I decided to start a new account on TikTok which is the one I am currently using now.

Kopano: I started making TikToks in February 2021, but it was just for fun and a way to express my musical talent.

And after that it just sort of blew up, I now have 109,000 followers.

When was that moment that you realised ‘hey, I think I’m officially an influencer now’?

Naledi: When brands started approaching me, that’s when I realised that I am an influencer. The first brand I worked with was Dash Trends Magazine as their brand ambassador. But I knew I had made it big when I started working with SKY Girls.

Waone: When big celebrities like Khanyisa Jaceni and other verified TikTokers from South Africa started following me, and every time I am out people would come and ask me “are you the girl from TikTok?”.

influencer when my followers were increasing. It was only when I started getting noticed in public and being stopped by people that I realised gore damn, I am an influencer. I also started getting DMs from people on Instagram telling me how my content really helped them come out from dark places.

Bridget: I don’t think there was a particular moment when that happened. I feel like I’ve always known that I have influence. In 2021 my posts started blowing up and I then ventured into all the other social media platforms.

Sbwl! So far, what have you found to be the best thing about being an influencer?

Letang: Seeing the influence I have on people around me and my followers. I also enjoy spreading positivity and confidence to my followers and having people look up to me.

Kopano: I think the best part for me is knowing that every time I post a video or content, I am giving at least one person hope. It’s not about the likes or followers for me, but about bringing life to someone who feels lifeless.

Naledi: Being given the opportunity to inspire people.

When I get messages and texts from my followers telling me how much of an impact I have on them and how they look up to me, I get motivated to continue with this journey. They really motivate me and give me a purpose for what I am doing.

Bridget: The best part for me is being able to bring about change and make a difference. I’m one person who likes to make an impact in people’s lives. And I get to use my platforms to change lives, it’s not just about wearing nice clothes and being on TV. Waone: I would say the best part about being an influencer is the recognition we get for our talents.

People recognise you for being yourself.

Letang: That would probably be last year. One of my videos on YouTube reached 40,000 views and on Instagram one of my pictures got 8,000 likes which was a first for me. One of my favourite YouTubers also reposted my picture and I felt very seen then.

Craving ice is a symptom of iron deficiency

18

skygirlsbw

That sounds amazing! What are some of the challenges you have faced in your work?

Letang: My biggest challenge has to be balancing school and creating content. And also making time for a social life and my family. Time management is very key in this line of work.

Waone: A lot of brands have been trying to take advantage of me because of my young age and because I was fairly new to the industry. I have also had some people try to get my TikTok account banned because I blew up very fast.

Bridget: The biggest challenge has to be getting people to recognise the work we do as influencers. In Botswana, it’s a fairly new trade and as such a lot of people still don’t see much value in it.

Naledi: Cyberbullying has been the greatest challenge I have faced so far. I get a lot of negative comments from people on Facebook and on TikTok as well. But that’s what has helped me grow as a person, being able to withstand the negativity that comes with social media.

Kopano: Negative comments. As much as we try to avoid them as creatives, sometimes they really do get to us.

My other challenge would be just being demotivated to continue creating content. I’m not really sure what the cause is but it’s something that as a creative happens to you once in a while.

Bridget: I make sure to maintain a clean public image, I don’t get involved in any negative activities or conversations, even on social media. I also don’t smoke because pretty girls do not smoke.

Kopano: I keep away from bad company. I make sure that I associate with people who help me grow and vice versa.

Naledi: I am very careful about what I put out on my social media, being conscious of the fact that I am a role model to some people. With my pictures as well, I always make sure that I’m dressed appropriately and I use nonoffensive language. This also helps me with attracting other brands to work with because I work hard to keep my reputation and brand clean.

Love the focus! We are curious to know, how does your influencer work affect your studies?

Kopano: My school work isn’t really affected but once in a while I do have to step away from social media and focus solely on my studies. It’s really all about balance and I do my best to maintain it between the two. And the other thing, as much as I love and appreciate getting recognised and meeting my followers, sometimes I just want to carry out normal tasks without people coming up to me.

Naledi: It doesn’t necessarily affect my studies negatively, but I really have to manage my time well to be able to do both of them well. As we all know, social media, specifically TikTok, is very addictive. So, I find myself having to stop myself from actually creating TikToks and scrolling on the app the whole day.

Yah, negative comments can really bring down someone’s self-esteem and even affect their mental health. We hope you’re taking care. Are Waone: My studies haven’t been affected much because there any specific things you do to maintain I’m able to manage my time well. If you know how to your brand and image as an influencer? manage your time well then it won’t be an issue. But Waone: I intentionally stay away from social media drama, especially on Facebook. Because you never know who is watching, it might be a potential brand that wants to work with you and then gets turned off by all the drama surrounding you.

Letang: I do my best to stay away from anything negative that could ruin my brand such as fake people.

currently I am waiting to go to tertiary school so I have all the time.

Bridget: Because I have been doing this work for a while now, I have learnt how to balance the two. At the moment my influencer work does not affect my studies in any way. I have actually learnt how to manage my time better because of it.

Letang: Because of what I study (PR and Communications), I feel like my content creation work helps me with my studies. The two are linked and what I learn from school I can easily apply in my work.

Climate change is causing flowers to change colour

19 You’ve chosen wisely haha. Are there any What is something that your followers other influencers that you look up to and why? probably don’t know about you?

Bridget: Locally I love and look up to Marang Selolwane.

She has been a presenter before and I just love her content and she has such a clean image. I also look up to Tumie Nthutang, she has amazing content and she carries herself so well. Lastly, I look up to Gaona Dintwe who is a great media personality.

Letang: I love Kefilwe Mabote because she is really good at what she does. I also look up to Mihlali and Tumie Nthutang.

Naledi: Natasha Pale Kemmone who’s my friend but I also look up to her and she inspires me a lot. I also love Kagiso Sento. I love her fashion sense and everything she does. She is so beautiful.

Kopano: I love and look up to Dato Seiko, she’s basically like a big sister to me and I have learnt so much from her.

As a creative you need someone who is pushing you and guiding you on the right path and she does that for me.

I also love Jordan MoOzy and admire his writing skills.

Letang: That I am actually very shy in person.

Naledi: I feel like I am very open and honest to my followers on social media. I’m always myself on there and I express my feelings fully. Even when I’m going through something I will show it and my followers will know. The only thing I can think of is the fact that I love food.

Waone: Most of my peers and friends are dating and all, I don’t. I feel like I am not ready yet.

Bridget: A lot of my followers like to joke that I don’t sleep because I do so many things but in fact, I sleep a lot! So that’s one thing they don’t know.

Kopano: This is a tough one, but the one that I get a lot is people not knowing that I am only 17. They always assume that I am older.

Se ntheye! Lastly, tell us something we don’t Waone: I don’t have anyone that I really look up to, but know about the influencer industry/work.

I do love Khanyisa Jaceni and Sima. I love their TikTok content because they are true to themselves and create content based on who they really are.

What should we look forward to seeing from you?

Letang: I would like to expand my YouTube more, create more content there which will eventually lead to more brand deals.

Waone: I want to go into business, which is why I am planning on studying a business-related course. My followers can look forward to seeing more amazing content from me.

Naledi: I am aiming for the Miss Botswana title. I really love doing pageantry and modelling work. Currently I am the reigning Miss Jewel Botswana. So, in the future that’s what I aim to focus on, pursuing commercial modelling and entering more beauty pageants.

Letang: There is a lot of planning that goes on behind the scenes. Planning outfits, finding the right location to shoot, scheduling, sometimes make-up, it all takes time to do.

Waone: The industry can be very toxic and if you don’t know what you are doing and if you don’t have a stand or know yourself, many people will try to take advantage of you.

Naledi: We go through the most! Anxiety, depression, we all go through it. And unfortunately, because of the nature of the work we do, we don’t get to show that side of us a lot. People always see the cute glamorous pictures and don’t understand that we are also humans.

Bridget: This industry and the work is very demanding.

It requires a lot of hard work and can be draining if you don’t do it the right way.

Kopano: It becomes draining to a certain extent if you are just in it for the hype and the fame.

Kopano: I am an artist and I want to continue to do that and create hope and heal people through my craft.

Sudan has more pyramids than Egypt

20 skygirlsbw

Written by: Amantle Seloma

An awkward silence ensued before he finally asked how I was doing.

“Oh, sorry!” I exclaimed as I crashed into a tall figure while trying to navigate the busy walkways of the Goldring Mall. The plastic bag I had been carrying also fell to the floor with a thud, colliding with the figure’s belongings.

“I am okay, thanks. And you?” I responded, regaining my composure.

The truth was, I was supposed to be running errands for my mother but having gotten through most of them quickly, I decided to take a break and go window shopping. There was supposed to be a sale at my favourite clothing store.

“OMG, I am truly sorry,” I said, kneeling down to pick up everything. It was only as I was straightening up that I caught a glimpse of who it was that I had bumped into. Suddenly my mouth went dry as I looked into Christian’s piercing brownish, almost hazel eyes.

“

“I am good too. Do you want to get ice cream with me?” Christian asked, still maintaining his dreamy smile.

I nodded and followed him to the nearest shop where they had outside benches to sit on.

Of course, I had to be the klutz that bumped into their crush.

”

I thought to myself “Whhyy mee!?”. I was making my way down his body with my eyes, taking note of his broad shoulders, when to my horror, I realized that I had my hand on his chest. I quickly retrieved it, shyness forcing my gaze to lower.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally rescued me from the flustered nightmare that yours truly was having and said, “Hi,” exposing his dashing smile with pearly white teeth. It took a moment for me to register this because I was distracted by his handsome features, but eventually I mumbled a response back. I had been envisioning this moment ever since I laid my eyes on him at school, but this was not the way I had expected to meet him for the first time.

After ordering our cones we sat down and started talking.

The conversation was a bit strained at first but eventually I relaxed and it flowed beautifully.

“

You can walk from Russia to Alaska (on ice)

I was genuinely enjoying getting to know him a bit better and I felt myself open up to him.

”

21 We talked about our current plans; I was currently in the babysitting business which he found hilarious for some reason. When he laughed my heart flickered a bit. It was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard.

He then told me that he was going to be in town until it was time to go to university. My newfound confidence and comfort allowed me quite the nerve. I blurted out,

“

”

Do you have a girlfriend?

It felt so good, almost familiar, and I didn’t want to let him go. We finally released each other and smiled thoughtfully as we both went our separate ways.

As I walked, getting on with my last errand of the day, I couldn’t help but replay the encounter in my head.

Over and over again. I couldn’t believe what had just happened, it felt surreal. I was still going over the details when my thoughts were rudely interrupted by a sudden clapping sound –

I wanted to take it back so quickly, surprised by my boldness. Startlingly, he didn’t hesitate to answer,

“And that is all that I have for you guys today. Thank you for your attention and time.”

“I don’t have a girlfriend, but I am looking.” My gaze slowly slid towards him as my heartbeat quickened and I caught a glimpse of a smile as he said that. We held each other’s gaze for a while and then finally broke it off with an awkward laugh, tension suddenly thickening the air.

I look up and see Christian standing at the front of the room. Smiling a smile that seems to glow gently. And then it all comes back to me…

We continued chatting for a few more hours, buying two more servings of ice cream in the time we sat there. By the time I checked my watch it was already 4pm! We must have been sitting here for at least three hours.

Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to stay and listen to him for longer, my time was up. With a heavy heart I told him that I had to finish the last of my errands and then head home as I was in charge of making dinner tonight.

“No probs, I totally understand. I actually have to go too and do some stuff. Responsibilities, right?” he responded with a smile.

“Yep, freaking responsibilities!” I responded sadly.

He chuckled softly, the butterflies in my tummy dancing to the sound. He told me that he had really enjoyed hanging out and if possible, he would be delighted to do it again soon. My mind immediately did a victory dance but I decided to calm myself down, “I enjoyed it too. So, let’s continue later over text?” A lazy smile graced his features in response,

We are at the Annual General Meeting for the Cheerful Souls Club and he has just completed his presentation. I was in fact, daydreaming.

My heart slowly sinks because

“

”

C'est la vie, n'est-ce pas?

Well... maybe not.

Since the meeting is done, I stand up and begin packing my bags.

“Hi Emma,” a familiar voice halts my train of thought.

“Would you like to grab ice cream after you are done here?” he asks.

I nod slowly with a gentle smile as I look into his eyes, wondering if my daydream had just manifested what could only be the beginning of a beautiful afternoon.

“Sure thing.” We both stood from the bench we had sat on for more than two hours and glanced into each other's eyes. We reached forward to say our goodbyes but somehow, we were confused about whether to hug or shake hands. Luckily, he reached out to hug me and I leaned in to hug him back.

The names of every continent end with the same letter that they start with

22

Celebrity Interview

skygirlsbw

Ke sure ka: Working hard Loving people Being true to myself Ke shapo ka: Negative energy Backstabbing Smoking

For this edition of the celebrity interview, we spoke to one of Botswana’s most talented influencers and long-time SKY Big Sister, Tumie Nthutang. A qualified lawyer and a full-time digital content creator by profession, Tumie has been in the influencer field for several years and knows a thing or two about the industry!

Let’s find out what she had to say.

Some perfumes have whale poo in them

23 Hi Tumie! Please tell us a little about what you were like when you were younger.

I grew up in Lobatse and my life was quite chilled. But I’ve always had a love for fashion and taking pictures. I was that little girl who loved dressing up, and I always looked forward to civvies day! I used to get my mum to make stuff from scratch that I’d seen on TV. And how did you become an influencer? Was it a purposeful decision?

When I started, I didn’t even know what an influencer was! I was in my third year studying law at UB, and a friend of mine was already blogging. One day she invited me to an event she was covering as her plus one, and she took some photos of me. After that, she profiled my outfit every day for a week on her blog – at that time there was a trend called OOTD ‘Outfit Of The Day’. Then I bought a little camera, opened an Instagram page, fell in love with blogging, started working with brands and the rest is history! It came naturally really, because it’s aesthetically oriented and I already loved dressing up, the makeup, the lights-camera-action!

What does a day in the life of an influencer look like?

Well, that differs per person, and even for an individual it can differ day by day. But for me, I wake up at 6am. I have green tea, check my mail, do my praying, check my to-do list for the day, touch base with my husband, have breakfast, go to the gym and train from 9-10. Then it’s time for work. Work is different on different days – I might be at my home office working on proposals, on set doing a video shoot, in the studio taking photos, in meetings, sourcing clothes for a job, or doing work outside the country. It’s fun because every day is different, so I always ask myself – what’s the adventure today?

For girls interested in becoming influencers, what advice would you give them?

You need to be yourself. When you’re in the limelight there’s only so much that you can keep back. So, you need to be true to yourself and know that whatever it is you put out, it’s something you want people to know. Also, start with what you have. There’s a misconception that when you start off you should have the makeup, the glam squad, but what people don’t hear enough is that it’s all baby steps. When you start off you do your own makeup, then 2 years later someone else does it, so be patient.

And is there anything that girls wanting to be influencers should avoid doing or associating with?

Yes, it’s important to stay away from brands or campaigns that take away from who you are. Don’t work with a brand if you don’t believe in what they stand for. And the same goes the other way, brands won’t want to work with you if the image you are selling is not one they want to align with. So don’t be disrespectful, don’t get into fights, and don’t smoke… because at the end of the day the business is you, the individual! People are buying into the person. Lastly, stay away from the hype – if you let it get to your head, it can mess you up. You start feeling like you’re above people, which should never happen.

Did you ever struggle to stay true to yourself as a teenager?

No, I didn’t. I think it’s because I was never a fan of cliques, where there is an ‘it girl’. I’d say to SKY Girls, please remain true to yourself - don’t find yourself going to get ice cream from somewhere just because Tumie says to go there! I was also really close to my family, which gave me that safe space. As a girl, you’re very conscious of a lot of things, especially as a teenager. But having a solid relationship with my mom really helped.

What general advice would you give to a SKY girl?

Firstly, and most importantly, stay true to yourself. Secondly, respect people. Not because you can gain something from them, but because I’m human and you’re human. Lastly, I try to never impose my beliefs on people but for me, faith goes a long way.

Whether it’s God, Badimo, the universe, whatever it is – it centres you and brings you towards yourself when you’re in the middle of it all. It will always keep you centred and help you know that yes, you’re great – but there is always something greater.

Watch the full interview with Tumie on Season 3 of The Mix – Powered by SKY Girls BW. Available to watch on BTV and the skygirlsbw YouTube channel.

Human noses and ears get bigger as we age

A Look Into The Mix

24 skygirlsbw

Season 3 is here sistas! With new segments, new presenters and new sets, we hope that you are ready for this. With a brand new season coming to BTV and our YouTube channel, there is a lot of amazing content to watch, enjoy, and be inspired by. Anyone interested in learning how to budget or start a business, how to dance, how to make wings at home, how to write a CV, to know what happens mo di 9-5 jobs like being a teacher or an accountant, as well as anyone interested in watching fun challenges featuring celebrities jaaka bo KhoiSan le bo Marang Selolwane, and our very own SKY Girl squads going head-to-head—this is the show for you! We can’t wait for you to watch and enjoy it.

One of our favourite features is back from previous seasons, and that’s the Pink Couch Sessions, this time round hosted by Ludo, Lesego and Bonolo. These three lovely ladies sit down to have a girl chat about parents, friends and other important issues facing teenage girls today. We also have several new features for you: in Career Corner, our host sits down with women in different professions to find out gore ba dirang, and in celebrity interviews she speaks to the likes of Marang Selolwane and Rea Kopi. In Money Matters, we send a SKY girl out to learn about budgeting and being a boss babe. In SKY investigates we ask experts about serious issues that affect teenage girls like COVID-19 and Gender Based Violence.

Finally, our girl Selinah learns how to do all sorts of cool and fun things in the new feature ‘Selinah learns to’.

Bridget Gothaang AKA Bri baby, 18

Get to know a little more about your presenters of The Mix powered by SKY Girls - right here!

Ke sure ka: Self-love Happiness Self-confidence

Ke shapo ka: Smoking Backstabbing Negativity

Ke sure ka: Good vibes God Presenting

I’m passionate about seizing every opportunity coming my way and allowing God to take the wheel, to lead my life as I live my life for him. My life motto is ‘nothing is impossible, nothing is unachievable, JUST DO IT!’. TV presenting has done a lot for me, my favourite thing about it all is self-awareness! It has taught and moulded me! BRI BABY LOVES IT!

Ke shapo ka: Negativity Rude people Lying

Ke sure ka: Success Financial stability Self-acceptance

Ke shapo ka: Self-sabotage Toxicity Procrastination

Ludo Ame Kiesha Kgatlhegang AKA Lulu, 18 I love presenting because it helps me get out of my comfort zone. I was extremely nervous and anxious to shoot the show. Luckily, I was surrounded by such a lovely crew, and they made me feel at home and eased my nerves. Being able to show people who I am is so thrilling because I'm such a shy person and I want other people to know you don't have to be the loudest person in the room to be seen and I'm a living example of that.

Humans share 50% DNA with bananas

Lesego Rathedi AKA Lez, 16 I value life itself and the opportunity to be successful and present. I’m a budding MC and media personality. I live by the idea that anything is possible. My favourite part about shooting The Mix was that I got the opportunity to see the technicalities of film—I loved watching them set up. If there's anything I could tell our SKY fam, it’s that they should never limit themselves or their capabilities.

Ke sure ka: Self-love Success Happiness

Ke shapo ka: Smoking Bad time management Negativity

Bonolo Olorato Nonhle Kgomotso Kelebemang AKA Busy B or Nolo, 18 My favourite thing about presenting is that it allows me to express myself actively and it’s very therapeutic because it comes naturally to me. I am a big believer in loyalty, commitment, hard work and self-respect as I believe they are the main ingredients to life, which I value profoundly. I wish to study actuary science as I have a passion for this course. My mantra is “you need to be rich”.

25

Ke sure ka: Confidence Positivity Self-love

Ke shapo ka: Smoking Low self-esteem Mean girls energy

Neo Mitchel Phologa aka n.e.o., 18 l hail from the village of Moshupa which makes me a Mokgatla wa ga Mmanana. l am an activist for human rights, a motivational speaker, and an independent, beautiful and confident 18 year old. l am about to start my first year at BAC. My hobbies are modelling, swimming and playing netball - l also love writing! One of my role models is Zozibini Tunzi. I want to bring pride and honour to my country like she has done for hers.

Ke sure ka: Kindness Self-love Money Ke sure ka: Dancing & singing Family & friends Religious beliefs

Ke shapo ka: Hubbly Negative self-talk Low vibrations

Ke shapo ka: Hate Homophobia Betrayal

Selinah Toteng AKA Gomez or Selili, 17 I aspire to have a PhD in Geology and Fine Arts.

I’ve had a huge passion for singing and dancing since I was in pre-school. I have learnt to appreciate the small things that are given to me because some people don't have anything at all.

My favourite part of presenting is being able to show my talent and gain confidence.

Tutsirai Sithole AKA Tutsi, 18 I believe in being aligned with your desires on a spiritual level. To quote Lauryn Hill ‘How you gon’ win if you ain’t right within.’ I love presenting because of the glitz and glamour. The opportunity to share myself with the world. If I could tell the SKY nation anything, I would tell them that they are the most important investment to themselves and that they should treat themselves accordingly.

Catch The Mix on BTV this season and on our YouTube channel @skygirsbw.

Turn on your post notifications to never miss any content!

Memories start forming in the womb

A Chat with ‘Sure Ka Rafiwa’ Star

26 skygirlsbw

Isago Ke sure ka: Positivity Living large Education

Ke shapo ka: Smoking Negativity Bad friendships

We had a chat with our very own Rafiwa, played by 16-year-old Isago Molefe, to get to know the show a bit more from her perspective. Isago is a talented and promising actress with a bright future. Her co-stars say she’s fun to be around and that the set was a chill place to be at with her as the lead of the show.

Here’s what she has to say!

You can’t think of any more colors than the ones that already exist

27 SKY: Hi Isago, we are so excited to be sitting down to chat with you about Sure Ka Rafiwa. Your face has been plastered all over billboards countrywide and Sure Ka Rafiwa is now showing on BTV. How does it feel to have a recognizable face?

Isago: I am very proud of myself. It’s one of those things that I never really expected to happen so soon, at my age. I feel like I have not felt all the emotions yet but I have definitely cried a few times. I have even had a few people recognize me in public, one of them being my neighbour who just screams ‘Rafiwa!’ every time she sees me. It's so adorable.

because someone else is doing something, it doesn’t mean you should join in as well. Stay true to your beliefs and values, in simple terms your Sures and Shapos, and what you want in your life.

SKY: That was for sure an interesting episode. What message do you think it puts across for teenage girls out there?

SKY: Awww, we are proud of you too! Let’s talk a bit more about the show itself. Can you describe who Rafiwa is?

Isago: Smoking is not cool! It is not something you want to do. Don’t do things you wouldn’t normally do and oska feela pressure to be like people around you. There are people that will encourage you to do good things, the ones who you wouldn’t feel pressure to try what they do to fit in, those are the people you want around you. Also, don’t change the person you are just because you are interested in someone.

Isago: Rafiwa is an explorer who tends to get into trouble, usually for a good reason. She is a light in everyone’s life, and has the kind of energy that makes people smile.

SKY: From the episode, it seems there is a misconception among young people about the contents of hubbly. Do you find this to be true in real life?

SKY: Rafiwa is definitely a big ball of energy. What do you love most about her?

Isago: Yea, I think from the episode we do see that a lot of young people think that hubbly is just flavour or steam or something, when it actually contains tobacco and it’s harmful just like cigarettes. But at the same time, we live in the world of Google with access to information. For example, if I want to try something new, I research it first. So, if teens don’t know what’s in something like hubbly, they should research them like Minkie does in the show, so they’re making informed decisions.

Isago: I love her confidence! It’s something that I didn’t have when we started shooting the show, but as I grew into the character, I adopted some of her characteristics. And my confidence level has been boosted quite a bit.

SKY: SKY is obviously all about being true to yourself. Do you think Rafiwa struggles with being true to herself?

Isago: Rafiwa does struggle with being true to herself, once in a while though. We see this especially in the episode with the house party. She wanted to become someone else, attempting to do new things she’s shapo with to impress someone. And by doing that she wasn’t really being true to herself.

SKY: Out of the 3 main characters, who is the most ‘true to herself’ would you say?

Isago: Of the three I think Minkie is the one who stays true to herself the most. She doesn’t get persuaded easily and is very stuck on what she knows. Which is a really good characteristic to help resist peer pressure. Seneo does try to stay true to herself, but she sometimes fails because she wants to be someone who is popular and liked, which is mostly influenced by Rafiwa.

SKY: We know it’s impossible to choose, but what is your favourite episode on the show and why?

Isago: My favourite episode is the one with the house party.

Apart from the fact that it was so fun to shoot and we had so many SKY Girls on set as extras, it illustrates how staying true to yourself is very important. In this episode we see Rafiwa experimenting with things that do not align with who she is she is impersonating her crush’s ex because she thinks it will make him like her. From wearing clothes that aren’t ‘her’ to wanting to smoke hubbly. And that really showed gore just

SKY: What are some of the other main messages that you believe young people, particularly girls, will take from watching Sure Ka Rafiwa?

Isago: First message; it is okay to be unique and to be different. You don’t need to be a copy/paste version of another person. Secondly, stay true to yourself if you want things to go the right way. Do positive things that you enjoy doing and that elevate you and people around you. Thirdly; you don’t have to change who you are just because you are in a new environment. Message number four; it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. And lastly, the older people in your life who seem like they are lecturing you are doing it from a place of love and only want the best for you.

We see this with Mr. Modise.

About Sure Ka Rafiwa:

Sure Ka Rafiwa is a family TV sitcom featuring the life of a teenage girl Rafiwa, her cousin Seneo, and her new best friend Minkie. Rafiwa moves in with her extended family which is new territory for her as an only child! We follow her, a daydreamer with a very active mind, as she navigates teen life in a new home and new school. Sure Ka Rafiwa airs on BTV on Sundays at 7.30pm, and can also be seen on the skygirlsbw YouTube channel. Get to know the full cast in our December 2021 magazine, as well as on our socials! Don’t miss out on Botswana’s first ever TV sitcom brought to you by SKY Girls BW.

Humans are the only animals that enjoy spicy food

28 skygirlsbw

the

OVER INFLUENCE

In this influencer edition of SKY Magazine, we wanted to highlight the good – and the bad – sides of influence. So, if you want to find out how to be a great influence in the world, while also avoiding being negatively influenced or pressured, check out our tips below!

It’s totally normal to be influenced. Everyone is influenced every day. You can be influenced by friends, family, a boy, social media, music videos, TV shows, jalo jalo. Think about it – if your little brother says he’s hungry, that might make you also feel hungry, so you make some food. By saying something about himself, he influenced your behaviour. Another common type of influence is positive influence. Let’s say your friend has been getting excellent grades and it’s because she has a private tutor. Maybe that would influence you to beg your parents to pay for one, or to save up for one yourself. Or, maybe a girl in your class has popping lips, you ask her where she got her lip gloss because you like how it looks and she tells you it’s a SKY x Nora Starlight gloss so you join a SKY Girls competition to win one for yourself ;) All of those types of influence are normal and not harmful at all.

Mme we all know there are other types of influence that are not OK. That’s when the behaviour you are being influenced towards is harmful to you, or doesn’t align with your values. As teenagers, we are especially likely to be influenced because of how much we value our friends’ and peers’ opinions of us.

That’s why it’s so important to make sure we know what our values are, how to recognise when we are being influenced, and how to avoid it.

Know What Your Values Are The first step to untangling your own feelings and desires from someone else’s, is to get to know YOURSELF. What do you stand for? What do you believe in? What is something you never, ever want to do? What is something you are OK with doing? What is something you might do one day, but you don’t yet feel ready for?

Have some serious me-time and write these things down. Then remember, all your feelings and decisions are valid! There is no right or wrong way to live your life, as long as you stay true to yourself. No one else can make decisions for you, so if you’ve decided you don’t want to date until you’re 18 – no else can change your mind. You made a decision that’s right for you, and we support you in that. What’s important is you also support yourself, and believe in the power of your decision-making.

People fear spiders more than death

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Avoid the Negative Influence Learn to Recognise Influence Sometimes, we only realise we were influenced or peer pressured after we already did the thing we regret. So it’s very important to learn to recognise influence in the moment, while it’s happening. That way we’re already halfway there.

The best way of learning to recognise when you’re being influenced is learning to listen to your gut. That means, if you have an awkward or strange feeling about something, that feeling is probably right. That’s your gut telling you ‘this situation is making me uncomfortable, and I want a way out’.

If you don’t listen to your gut, your brain might take the ‘easy way out’ by giving into peer pressure. But by acknowledging what your gut is saying, you’ll be able to respond properly.

O seka wa ipateletsa go dira hela go impress aba bangwe.

Another important way to recognise peer pressure and influence is to take a minute to yourself (e.g. go the bathroom or pretend to make a phone call), take a few deep breaths and ask yourself ‘Does this align with my values? Do I really want to do this?’. It’s tricky in the moment when you feel forced to respond, so taking a quick second to check in with yourself first can be really helpful.

Once you have recognised that someone is trying to influence you negatively, the final step is to avoid it. It’s actually easier than it sounds – it’s all about self-confidence and knowing your audience. We are sure that if you have followed the steps above, you will already have the selfconfidence needed. If you’re not feeling confident that’s understandable – just fake it! No one can tell if confidence is real or fake, but the more confident you appear, the more this technique will work. Secondly, consider who is influencing you, and respond in a way that you think will make them accept your answer. If they are your friends, simply saying ‘no thanks, I don’t want to do that, but you can!’ should work – they won’t feel rejected and will respect your wishes. If it is an older or more influential person, try making an excuse. If they are pressuring you to go somewhere with them, tell them you have to go home and babysit. If someone offers you a cigarette, tell them you have asthma. If a boy is pressuring you to kiss him and you don’t want to, tell him you have a boyfriend. With people you don’t know well, it doesn’t matter if the excuse is not true, if it works for you. It also helps if you have a friend around that you trust has your back. Someone with confidence who doesn’t easily get influenced to do things they don’t want to do, who stays true to themselves. They can boost your confidence to stay true to yourself too.

Re sure ka using our voices, and influencing the world we live in! As young women, it can often feel like people are making decisions for us - parents, teachers, all the way to politicians. But what if there was a way to get your voice heard? To tell people about the issues you face and what’s most important to you? And ultimately, to influence the world you live in.

That’s why Unicef created U-Report, a global platform where children and young people get to answer questions about things that are important to them, by replying to surveys via SMS (and it is totally free, by the way!).

The results of these surveys are used as evidence when developing policies to improve our lives.

Here at SKY we believe every girl’s voice should be heard, so we encourage all SKY Girls to sign up for U-Report today. And it just takes 10 seconds to join – in fact, take out your phone right now and SMS ‘JOIN’ to 16015, or

Influence your world with U-Report

WhatsApp ‘JOIN’ to 7709 4972. It’s that easy!

So sign up, and get ready to create the Botswana YOU want!

SMS “JOIN” TO 16015 / WhatsApp “JOIN” to 7709 4972

In partnership with

Apples give more energy than coke

30

“Two of your good friends have an argument?”

skygirlsbw

Here are some of our top tips for common issues SKY Girls tell us they are facing. For those with the same issues, we hope this advice helps you!

“You are taking exams soon and your grades are not as high as you want?”

Firstly, try not to panic. As much as exams seem like the most important thing in the world right now, many people didn’t get the results they wanted, and still found success doing something they enjoy in their adult life. Plus, the more you panic, the worse your results are likely to be. So, it will actually help you to perform better if you learn how to calm yourself down, put things in perspective and relax a little. It is also important to remember that school results do not define you. Just because you can’t understand a maths problem, that does not mean you are stupid – no! It just means your skills lie elsewhere – maybe you are very emotionally intelligent, and you care for the people around you. That is important too because there are professions out there that require this skill.

Maybe you are amazingly creative, and able to imagine things other people can’t. That’s an unusual skill you can make money from too.

Now, for some practical advice. If your grades are below what you need, then something in your study routine is not working, and it’s time to try something new. Here are a few ideas – why not try them all and see which ones work best for you. Firstly, ask for help, from your teacher (who should know you well so can give specific advice), from someone in your class who achieves excellent grades, or even from a family member who has knowledge about that particular subject. Do as many practice papers as you can, as this is often a better way to spend time than simply revising in terms of improving your grades. Consider setting up a study group so you can all help each other. Watch videos on the subjects you find most difficult on YouTube. Come up with fun ways of remembering important topics – songs, rhymes, that type of thing!

Explain topics to your friends – teaching helps you learn, too. Finally, remember to focus on cracking the topics you find most difficult. It’s easier and more important to bring an E grade up to a C, than to change a B to an A. Last but not least, remember that if your grades still don’t improve, it’s not the end of the world - you still have a bright future ahead of you. Good luck!

Ditsala! Even though friendship drama is common at all stages of life, it seems to peak in our teenage years. Maybe that’s because we are still finding ourselves, which includes aligning our own identities with different people and different values. Or maybe it’s just because at school we are thrown together with a random bunch of people and it’s human nature to make friends - and enemies! Whatever the reason, we often find ourselves in the middle of some drama, with friends expecting us to take sides or join in gossiping about someone who, until yesterday, was a good friend. Dilo di kgona go dubega motlhofo.

It's important to remember our values and our Sures and Shapos at a time like this. Most SKY Girls ba re ba sure ka friendship and ba shapo ka gossiping. That means when your friend starts gossiping about the other one, you should not join in if it goes against your values, and also it is likely to cause trouble down the road. What if the friend heard or saw you gossiping about them? They would feel hurt because you broke their trust, and you would feel guilty. Plus, you might get a reputation among your other friends for being someone who gossips about them.

It’s hard not to join in, and you might be worried your friend would feel hurt gore you aren’t taking her side, but the easiest way to get away from the temptation of gossiping is simply to remain friendly but don’t engage with the topic. Smile and change the subject. If they keep trying to make you join in, tell them you’re not taking sides and that’s why it’s a bad idea for you to join in. Another important thing these days is to make sure technology can’t be used against you. People can send screenshots of phone conversations to others, so don’t get caught out doing something you would not be proud of on your phone either. It might make its way back to the person you’re talking about, and eventually back to you.

Finally, remember that arguments don’t last forever. Usually there is a way back to making peace. Try to bring your friends back together by encouraging them both to apologise and find common ground - things they can agree on, and reminders of why they’re friends in the first place. Let them know that you miss your friendship the way it was, and that you value both of them equally and are not taking sides. Just being a calm presence for both of them will also help mend the problem.

Spicy food reactions are mental not physical

FOOD REVIEWS:

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CHICKEN BURGERS

Burgers are the staple of any fast food restaurant and they are nutritious too. They have bread (starch), vegetables (minerals & vitamins) and meat (protein). And who doesn’t love a good burger anyway? Every now and then goare motho a spoile le some friends. We took two SKY Girls, Nthabiseng and Taboka, around Gabs in the quest to find the best chicken burger! The restaurants visited were Chicken Licken, Nando’s and Honchos. Here is what the two girls had to say about the burgers, looking at taste, appearance and pricing.

HONCHOS

The Honchos at Game City has very limited seating space and we had to order our burgers to go. We opted for the Double Chicken Pepper Burgers with the hot flavour and they went for P45.

NTHABISENG

Appearance: 3/5 Taste: 2/5 Pricing: 4/5 Total: 9/15 “The appearance was not appetizing and the bun wasn’t soft. The chicken was cooked well but it didn’t taste as nice as I expected.

The cheese was great though!”

We ordered the Nando’s Burger to go as well but they do have lots of space for seating and they are not too busy mid-morning.

We opted for mild flavour, paired the burgers with chips and they were P60 each.

Appearance: 3/5 Taste: 2/5 Pricing: 5/5 Total: 10/15 “The chicken was too spicy, but we did order the hot flavour. It was also dry and the appearance of the burger was not pleasing at all. ”

NTHABISENG

Appearance: 5/5 Taste: 4/5 Pricing: 4/5 Total: 13/15 “The bread crust was soft and so easy to bite into and swallow. The chicken was juicy and moist and very delicious. And the packaging made the burger look very appetizing. Good value for money.”

TOTAL SCORE: 19/30

CHICKEN LICKEN

We ordered 2 Big John chicken burgers at Chicken Licken e le takeaway. Each of them cost P38. The restaurant was not crowded and the food was ready within minutes. This is what we mean by fast food!

NTHABISENG

NANDO’S

TABOKA

Appearance: 5/5 Taste: 4/5 Pricing: 5/5 Total: 14/15 “The bun was soft but sturdy, the chicken was nice tasting and perfectly fried. Overall, the burger was sweet and tasty. Highly recommended and the price ke ya rona.”

TABOKA

Appearance: 5/5 Taste: 4/5 Pricing: 5/5 Total: 14/15 “The chicken was moist, fresh and firm. The bun was also very soft and fresh. The whole burger was juicy and the chicken was not greasy.

The cheese added gave the whole experience an extra kick.”

TOTAL SCORE: 27/30

TABOKA

Appearance: 5/5 Taste: 5/5 Pricing: 5/5 Total: 15/15 “The burger was moist and soft and creamy with cheese which enhanced everything about its texture. The chicken was cooked very well however it was a bit salty. Mara this is the one.”

TOTAL SCORE: 29/30

You can never overcook mushrooms

32 skygirlsbw

Which Influencer Are You?

Ever wondered which influencer you are most like? Well, with this being the influencer edition, we put together a quiz for you to find out!

3. But you’re also secretly good at…? a. Chess b. Karate c. Dancing d. Rapping

1. How would you describe your style? a. Casual – mom jeans and spaghetti strap tops b. Afrochic – printed jumpsuits and long flowing skirts c. Simply black chic - high waist black pants and a black polo neck d. Urban baddie – colour co ordinated athleisure sets

4. What is your one weakness? a. I can never be serious b. Sometimes I can be too serious c. I can be too emotional d. I’ve been in fights before

2. Your friends would say you have a great…? a. Sense of humour b. Sense of justice c. Loving cheerful personality d. Ability to act

5. What brands would you want to work with, as an influencer? a. MAC makeup & Fenty accessories b. Dior fashion & Dell laptops c. Shell energy, IDM University d. Impulse fragrances & Kotex pads

7. Which celebrity would you most like to hang out with? a. Trevor Noah b. Pharrell Williams c. Viola Davis d. Adele 8. If there was a cause you really cared about, how would you contribute towards it? a. I’d make engaging content for the cause for free b. I’d rally my friends to help by posting protest artwork on my socials c. I’d set up an NGO to help the cause d. I’d donate money to organisations

6. Which subject would you most like to study? a. Journalism b. Sociology c. Marketing d. Psychology & Criminology im ag

eb

If you scored…

y Local Corner

Mostly A

Mostly B

Mostly C

The influencer you’re most like is Elsa Majmbo!

The influencer you’re most like is Yara Shahidi!

The influencer you’re most like is Miss GeeKays!

The influencer you’re most like is Boity Thulo!

The 20-year-old Kenyan native is a self-made young woman, with her comedy monologues shooting her to global fame during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her funny, relatable and quirky content got her noticed by big names across the world, and brands quickly followed in signing her up as an ambassador. If you’re like Elsa, keep shining with your unique and lovable personality!

The 22-year-old American actress first rose to fame playing Zoey on Black-ish and has since gone on to star in other TV shows and movies. While she is an actress by career, she is an activist by choice, often lending her wisdom and intellect to discussions about gender, race and poverty. If you’re like Yara, keep being your authentic self that strives for a better world!

Our very own husky-voiced staple of local radio was born Khumo Kgwaadira. While she made her name in radio and received wide recognition for presenting the Top 40 Countdown on RB2, she is multi-talented as shown by her other ventures in TV presenting, MC-ing, fashion design, the restaurant business, and starting the teen girl empowerment NGO ‘Who Am I’. If you’re like Miss GeeKays, people surely appreciate you for your down-toearth nature!

South-African Boitumelo ‘Boity’ Thulo started her career in TV presenting and acting, but made a big change in 2018 when she launched her rap career. She became the first female rapper in South Africa to be certified platinum, followed by closing a record deal with Def Jam Africa. Boity is known for her larger-than-life personality and her rebellious nature. If you’re like Boity, keep letting your big personality shine through!

Peppers have more vitamin C than oranges

Mostly D

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Words ShapoKaYone StayTrue Marang Isago Tumie RedCarpet Influencer TikTok SureKaRafiwa TheMix Burgers

Word Make words using these letters – SPATHE 4 letter words

5 letter words

5 letters: Ephas, Heaps, Paths, Phase, Shape, Haste, Heats, Paste, Tapes, Septa, Peats Cheat sheet 4 letters: Apes, East, Eats, Hate, Hats, Heat, Past, Pats, Pest, Pets, Spat, Step, Tape, Taps

Eggs aren’t dairy

Pledge Winter SmokeFree Woke skygirlsbw Instagram YouTube Elsa Boity Bonang MissGeeKays

34 skygirlsbw

Inspirational Quotes

Lobsters used to be Prison food

Reflection Section

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We have come to the end of another issue of SKY Magazine. We hope you enjoyed the content and as always please let us know your thoughts over on our socials!

We have come up with a few questions to help you reflect on this issue, and to reflect on YOURSELF too. Feel free to discuss these questions with your friends, think about them alone, or maybe use them as journal prompts.

P4 - In the editor’s note, Ludo says “It’s important to know that resisting peer pressure gets you more respect in the end, from yourself and others.” Can you remember a situation where your respect for someone increased after she/he resisted peer pressure?

P5 - Look at the photos on the SKY Spotlight; which event would you most like to have attended and why? What event do you think SKY should run next, for girls like you to attend?

Plan your perfect event and then let us know what it is over on our socials, and we’ll see what we can do!

P6 - After reading Body Beautiful, think of 3 social media influencers who make you feel good about yourself – what is it about them that helps lift you up too? Now, think of 3 people you follow who make you feel bad about yourself, and unfollow them. Instant happiness :) P6 - Write a list of 10 things you love about yourself – 5 things about your appearance, and 5 things about your personality. Any time you feel like people on social media are too ‘perfect’, remember what you learnt in Body Beautiful, and look back over the 10 things about yourself that are awesome!

P8 - How many of the songs on Marang’s playlist do you know? Do you also love them? Choose one that you haven’t heard and listen to it!

P8 - Imagine SKY is interviewing you for the music pages…

• What song makes you remember your childhood the most?

• What song cheers you up when you’re sad?

• What song have you listened to the most this month?

P10 - Which is your favourite winter fashion look out of the 4 on our fashion pages? How else would you style the looks to suit your own style?

P12 - Looking at the red carpet looks people rocked for the Sure Ka Rafiwa premiere, which one would you most like to wear? Can you draw a sketch of the PERFECT dress you would wear to the Oscars?

P14-19 - How many of the featured teen influencers do you follow on social media? If you don’t follow all of them, are there some that you want to follow? Check out their pages now :)

P14-19 - Naledi says the best part about being an influencer is getting stories from people who say that she has positively influenced them. Who has positively influenced you, in your life? It doesn’t have to just be social media influencers – family and friends work too. Drop them a message letting them know how much you appreciate their influence!

P14-19 - Several of the teen influencers mention that it’s important to balance social media and their studies. Do you struggle with this? If you do, think about what steps you could take to improve this balance.

P14-19 - We asked the teen influencers to tell us one thing their followers wouldn’t know about them. What is something that people wouldn’t guess about you, just from looking through your social media pages?

P14-19 - We asked the teen influencers to tell us something people don’t know about the influencer industry. Which answers were the most surprising to you? Would you want to be an influencer, or do you think there are more negatives than positives?

P20 - Read the SKY Short Story; did you enjoy it?

Now write one and send it to us for the chance to have it published in the next issue of SKY Magazine!

P22 - In our interview with Tumie Nthutang, she gives tips on what to do and what to avoid if you want to be an influencer. Read these answers and see if you are already following this advice, or if there is anything you would need to change if you wanted to be an influecer.

P22 - Tumie says that she didn’t struggle to stay true to herself as a teen, because she avoided cliques and she’s always had a strong relationship with her mother. What do you think helps you stay true to yourself? Have you ever struggled to stay true to yourself and what might have helped you in that situation?

P24 - Have you watched The Mix yet? Which is your favourite of the new features mentioned in the article? What other new features would you love to see covered in future seasons? Tell us on our socials!

P26 - Isago also says that there is a misconception about the contents of hubbly, which is shown in the show; many people don’t know that it contains tobacco, just like cigarettes.

Did you know this? How many other products containing tobacco can you think of?

P28 - In the article ‘Over the Influence’, we list 3 steps to avoiding all negative influence. Step 1 is ‘Know what your values are’. What are your values? List your 3 Sures and 3 Shapos. That means 3 things you love and want in your life, and 3 things you don’t like and never want to be involved with. Remember, these are for YOU, not for anyone else – so write truthfully.

P28 - Step 2 is ‘Learn to recognise influence’. Can you think of a time when you realised you were being influenced? Can you think of a time when you did something because you were being influenced, but didn’t realise it at the time?

P28 - Step 3 is ‘Avoid the negative influence.’

Imagine a situation where someone is pressuring you to do something - what would a good answer be, to avoid being pressured?

P30 - What is your favourite inspirational quote from our page? Cut it out and stick it on your notebook or diary! What is your favourite inspirational quote of all time? Draw it yourself in your notebook or diary.

P31 - In ‘What to do if’ we discuss what to do when your friends are fighting. Have you ever experienced this? What happened and how was it resolved? What could you have done to make things better?

P31 - We also tackle the topic of how to improve your grades. What other advice would you give to a girl struggling with this issue, in addition to the advice we gave?

P32 - Think of the best burger you’ve ever eaten… where did you have it? What was so good about it? Can you recreate it at home?

P33 - Which influencer did you come out as in the quiz? Do you agree with that conclusion?

Apart from the 4 we listed as answers, which other influencer do you think you’re similar to?

P26 - Isago Molefe (who plays the lead role of Rafiwa in Sure Ka Rafiwa) says that she thinks Minkie is the character who is the most true to herself. Which character do you think is the most true to themselves on the show and why?

Nutmeg can cause hallucinations

A family TV sitcom

Botswana’s first ever teen sitcom, produced by SKY Girls BW! Airs Sundays at 7.3pm on BTV, or catch up on YouTube @skygirlsbw

SKY Girls BW’s very own lifestyle magazine TV show.

Season 3 is coming to BTV and YouTube soon!