A social media influencer, Luyanda “Dando” Nkosi obtained her Degree of Bachelor of Journalism at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2024 Spring Graduation ceremony, at the Durban Exhibition Centre earlier today (Thursday, 19 September 2024).
From a young age, Nkosi (23) from Osizweni, Newcastle had a dream of being in a media space.
This achievement marks a breakthrough in her journey from a disadvantaged background to becoming a successful social media influencer.
“I realised I could combine my studies with my interests in lifestyle, beauty, and entertainment,” said Nkosi.
Her passion for media and creativity led her to start her influencing journey on Facebook in 2017, while she was still in high school. She later transitioned to Instagram, where she had faced challenges but eventually gained recognition from local and big brands like Nivea, Honor, Brutal Fruit and many other brands.
The Journalism degree is an additional tool to her already blooming media career, as she is planning on getting into the radio and television space, while growing her fanbase as a content creator.
She aligned herself with the DUT tagline: Creative. Distinctive. Impactful as she believes being creative had changed her life and her family situation for the better.
“One of DUT teachings is that as students we should be creative. I used my creativity to create content on social media and make a name for myself,” she explained.
Through her creativity and hard work, Nkosi has not only achieved academic success but also improved her family’s financial situation.
“I am proud of myself for balancing academics and being an influencer. It’s been a dream to make a name for myself as an influencer, and finally I have made my dream come true. It was hard to balance time for my assignments, and content creation. But I prioritised, stayed organised, and learned to say no to opportunities that didn’t align with my values,” she explained.
She further shared that her family is very happy for her, and congratulate her for getting her first qualification.
Going forward Nkosi encourages those who want to get into content creation to not be afraid to take risks and try new things.
“Build a supportive network and keep learning. Most importantly, believe in yourself, remember that your unique voice matters,” she said.
Check out some of her content on Instagram and TikTok by visiting her pages @ luyanda_dando.
Pictured: Luyanda “Dando” Nkosi.
Sinamile Sithole
