In the ever evolving landscape of entertainment, it is rare to find consistency and longevity, fame has become easily disposable,a redundant and repetitive cycle. Remaining relevant requires a combination of creativity and innovation, you have to adapt or succumb to the inevitable. From a young age Phuti Khomo had a clear mindset about her career, she understood her vision and put it into practice long before she became a household name “I knew what I wanted to do, early on, and thank God I had a mother who was a custodian of the industry, I had the support from day one”. With unquestionable backing, Phuti’s destiny was secured onset, becoming Miss Teen South Africa was the starting point, she wore the crown with elegance and poise, breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings. Now, using her platform the “Phuti Khomo Modelling Expo”, she is passing the baton, paving the way for aspiring models.
Since bursting onto the scene, Phuti has consistently demonstrated her staying power, cultivating a lasting legacy through tireless effort and unwavering commitment to her craft. By leveraging her impressive skills and talents, she has successfully navigated multiple fields, including acting, entrepreneurship, and humanitarian work, always commanding the stage with poise and passion. With her striking beauty, infectious personality, and generous heart, Khomo has endeared herself to the South African public, earning their admiration and respect. Her well-deserved 2024 SAFTA nomination is a testament to her enduring impact. As we look to the future, Phuti's remarkable body of work continues to inspire and motivate others, serving as a powerful reminder that achieving longevity in one's career requires dedication, perseverance, and patience. Her legacy is a shining example of what can be accomplished through hard work, passion, and a commitment to excellence.
GLAMOUR: Did you envision your future success when you started out, and did you foresee your career taking the path it has?
Phuti Khomo: You are not going to believe this, but yes!. I knew what I wanted to do, there was no doubt or two ways about it and luckily I got support from day one. My mom knew the importance of one's pursuit of dreams which is ultimately the pursuit of happiness. Getting into the industry I knew which path I wanted to take, I was good at acting, I wanted to take that route, and once I started acting, things unfolded in my mind, I went to different directions, trying other avenues, opening doors and exploring with my talents. I knew that entertainment was vast. And I wanted to take advantage of every facet of it, and try to dominate it.
GLAMOUR: What gave you the courage to explore multiple passions and careers, from pageant, to acting , radio, and philanthropy without fear?
Phuti Khomo: I love reading quotes and listening to people’s mottos, and someone once said “The world is my oyster” And I used to try and think, what that means. I look to international stars, and how they keep reinventing and rebranding themselves and I apply that to myself. The people I look up to are always on brand and when you’re on brand you can never lose.Whatever avenue that you choose to do must just be aligned with what you want for yourself, and how you want people to perceive you. So if you are the first lady, you're classy and elegant, that's what you're selling, if you want to try something different do it, but never lose the core or the essence of what you want people to see you as, which is classy and elegant.
GLAMOUR: Are we correct to say acting was your first love? Can you tell us about your acting journey, from early roles on Generation to playing Sharon on Entangled?
Phuti Khomo: 100%. My first love was acting. I used to emulate everybody I saw on television when I was a little girl. Starting out as a model was my mother’s influence, she used to be a beauty queen so she pushed me into that industry, But the nice thing is- pageantry was able to bring what I love, which is acting. I was exposed to people who could further my career in acting.And I used to do voiceovers to train my voice, and that's why it's so important to keep doing the little things every single day to help you get better within your chosen industry.
GLAMOUR: What was the process like for landing the role of Sharon on Entangled, and how did you prepare to bring this character to life?
Phuti Khomo: As you know or might have noticed. I don't take on a lot of acting roles. I don't do open castings. So if script writers come up with a character. And envision me for the role - then I’m ready to shoot, That's how I fell in love with “ Sharon” I’ve been wanting to do a production that is almost similar to “ Being Mary Jane” and I love Burnt Onion because their minds push to the extreme. I was so impressed at how they guided me into this role, and how they pushed me into the different aspects of the character, like the sex scenes, they were a little uncomfortable, I’m not going to lie - but I submerged myself into the role and let go. We had professionals helping us with the sex scenes, so it was great. And no, we didn't have real sex ( laughs)
GLAMOUR: Was there a specific person or inspiration that you drew to bring Sharon to life?
Phuti Khomo: It was my go-to people, Gabrielle Union, a bit of Issa Rae and my favourite actress, Angela Basset.I had to steal a lot from different actors to put Sharon together, And that helped me a lot especially in scenes where I didn’t know how to react, I learnt to throw it in quickly and not let it linger.
GLAMOUR: What did your SAFTA nomination for Best Actress mean to you, and how did it feel to be recognised that way?
Phuti Khomo: We went all out, we did a pre-party with my fans, we had the road to the SAFTAS countdown and we put together my outfit, it was fun. But to be honest - I learnt a long time ago that you gotta know that you're good before anybody tells you that you are. I didn't have to wait for anybody to tell me that. So when I received the nomination I said it's about damn time, that was my attitude. It was a moment of thanks, as opposed to a moment of appreciation. A moment of, thank you for finally realising and seeing what I've been seeing all these years. To have won would have been amazing, I mean, obviously the nomination is super great because it elevates your status within the industry and your peers. So I'm grateful for that.
GLAMOUR: What inspired you to start the “Phuti Khomo Modelling Expo”, and what drove your passion to create this platform for aspiring models?
Phuti Khomo: Growing up, I was lucky enough to know how to access opportunities, a lot of people don’t have that, we have so many opportunities in this country. The only difference is people cannot reach them because they are not advertised. I am in a space where it's easy for me to go from opportunity to opportunity but not everybody has that eye. There are so many people who have great potential, so I thought to myself - let's make it obvious and put in their faces so nobody could say there's a lack of opportunities.
Secondly, after winning Miss Teen South Africa, I used to receive many questions and enquiries about how I made it, and I didn’t have the answers because I was groomed at an early age for the modelling industry. My mom taught me how to sit,walk, talk, present and uphold myself, and how to articulate.I did all of that. So a lot of people don't know that's where you need to start. So even if you give them the name of an agency, they don’t have the necessary skills or qualities because they have never been trained. So I wanted to open a space where I can tell people what agents are looking for, train them to be beauty queens and models, but also teach them the small intricacies of the industry, like, What do you do once you're chosen for the pageant? If you become a finalist, How are you going to be scrutinised etc , all those things need to be taught to you so that you don't get shocked when your time comes.
Thirdly, The Expo - this is the culmination of the workshop, where participants present themselves to agencies that we invite, they confidently and professionally go face to face with the agents, by now they know what is expected of them because they have been trained. And lastly I wanted to curb human trafficking and protect young models from exploitation, which often occurs. By educating both models and their parents about the industry and how to avoid potential dangers,we ensure that the modelling industry is a positive and empowering experience for all involved.
GLAMOUR: How do the Workshops and Expo complement each other, and what can attendees expect to learn or gain from participating in a workshop, including any key takeaways or outcomes?
Phuti Khomo: The workshops were created to better prepare aspiring models for the main Phuti Khomo Modeling Expo. After hosting the first Expo, we recognized the need for preparatory training. The workshops aim to equip models with the necessary skills and knowledge before the main event, enhancing their confidence and readiness to showcase their talents. These sessions provide essential training and guidance to help models present themselves effectively and professionally. The Phuti Khomo Modeling Expo (PKME) Workshops are premier educational and career-building events designed for aspiring models aged 3-28 and their parents. The workshops aim to provide valuable insights and guidance to aspiring models, equipping them with the skills, industry insights, training, and safety awareness particularly concerning human trafficking, and other knowledge necessary to navigate the modeling industry. Each workshop will prepare participants for our main scouting event (The Expo), where they will have the unique opportunity to showcase their abilities to top local and international modeling agencies from London, New York, Paris, and Milan.
GLAMOUR: Are there any organisations or sponsors backing you up?
Phuti Khomo: Unfortunately the modelling industry is not regulated, and the Department of Arts&Culture doesn’t recognise it as a formal entity. As a result, I've had to personally fund the project. This is disheartening because the industry has great potential and our government should be investing into these kids.
GLAMOUR: How do you find balance to manage your busy schedule and prioritise self-care?
Phuti Khomo: There’s many things that get me grounded and help me find my balance. I have so much assistance around me, I don’t try to do it by myself, It may look like I am wonder woman but honestly I have many people lifting me up, from my helpers at home to my team at work, they ensure I don’t worry about the little things and they always plan ahead. They believe in me and my vision and I do not take that for granted.My husband also plays a vital role in cheering me on, he is my biggest supporter and always encourages me to pursue my passions. Even when I’m working long, demanding hours, he’s always there to reassure me that it's okay and that I should do whatever it takes to achieve my goals.
His unwavering support and understanding mean the world to me. My sister is another rock in my life, she is someone I can always count on to be there for me no matter what. She’s the kind of person who will drop everything to support me and I feel grateful to have her by my side. To destress, I take a step back from reality and indulge in a movie or series on Netflix, I switch off everything and recharge, this calms me and brings me joy.
GLAMOUR: Any possibility of writing a memoir in the future?
Phuti Khomo: Yes, I will probably write one, I think once everything is in line and in the direction I want it to be and I feel content, I definitely will.
Interview Ends
The Phuti Khomo Modeling Expo Workshops are now underway, following the successful launch of the Pretoria workshop on January 25, held in partnership with Menlyn Park Shopping Centre.
Upcoming workshops include:
- Northwest: February 15, in collaboration with Rustenburg Mall
- Durban: March 1, in collaboration with The Pavilion Mall
- Ekurhuleni: April 12, in collaboration with Carnival City
Tickets for all workshops are available at Computicket
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