The top 10 skincare influencers to watch rise in 2021 are Anarzade Omar, Dineo Jeniffer Mapoma, Esihle Ndleleni, Katleho Motaung, Khwezi Madlala, Lesego Mogonediwa, Ofentse Lekwane, Ofentse Molefe, Simone Kruger and Sue Mokoena Durban, South Africa.

The top 10 nano skincare influencers to watch rise in 2021 were selected by global skincare brand, NIVEA, in their latest campaign “Skinfluencer”, as an initiative that aims to uplift and empower young women into careers as an influencers. This competition comes at a time when South Africa has seen an unprecedented rise in the unemployment rate, with women bearing the greatest brunt of the trend. Turning a passion for social media and content creation can grow into a self-led business with earning potential when managing one’s image and brand associations in a professional way.  “NIVEA aligns with nano-influencers, whose messages are authentic and they interact with their communities in highly personal way.  Through NIVEA Skinfluencer, we aim to identify women with a talent for content creation and help open doors for them.

The winners have worked closely with the brand and we have guided them in honing their skills over the last 12 months,” says NIVEA Marketing Manager, Mpume Ngwenya.   The 10 Skinfluencers have worked with NIVEA agency partners on campaigns, participated in photo shoots and attended regular online tutorials with a variety of professionals guiding them through the multiple disciplines. The tutorials included photography and videography skills, use of apps, tips and tricks to grow your following, styling, make up, modelling, managing your own brand and insights into the NIVEA brand as well as the beauty world.  They have received personalised coaching with some of the most successful influencers in South Africa.

The Top 10 Skincare Influencers To Watch Rise in 2021 are:

• Khwezi Madlala Instagram handle: @khwezilokusa_m “My most precious accessory is my smile.”  Khwezi Madlala is 20 years old and comes from Pietermaritzburg in KZN. She is currently, studying Politics and Industrial Sociology at the University of Cape Town (UCT). “I have had the most interesting journey with my skin, which has led me to the realisation that self-love is the first secret to happiness. My skin is not perfect, neither am I, so I have chosen to love it with its imperfections.” Khwezi is one to follow with her fun, informative and inspirational content. Content “about skincare with the sole purpose of inspiring women to fiercely and passionately love their skin.” As a young black woman in South Africa she is, in her own words, “purposeful in grabbing opportunities and doing my best to make sure that I uplift others in the process.” Follow Khwezi as she ambitiously figures out how to reach her full potential.
  
  
• Sue MokoenaInstagram handle: @sue.mokoena “It’s always a good day to look good.”  Sue Mokoena is a 21-year-old from Johannesburg, studying towards her Urban and Regional Planning honours degree at the University of Witwatersrand. As a skincare influencer, she is focused on “raising awareness of the importance of skincare and taking care of one’s skin even though life is fast paced and often stressful.” An enthusiastic fitness guru, Sue is attracted to initiatives that see women coming to the fore and unshackling their restrictions and the limited scope, placed on them by society. Follow Sue as you see her contagious energy for seizing chances, increasing her skills, growing her following and gaining invaluable experience along the way.
  
  
• Esihle Ndleleni Instagram handle: @esihlendleleni “Being an influencer means being true to the people who look up to you.” Esihle Ndleleni is a 21-year-old aspiring actress originally from the Eastern Cape. She is studying live performance at AFDA in Cape Town. Shy-by-nature, Esihle has decided she cannot afford to be in the shadows anymore and needs to step boldly into the limelight. Since the age of 12, Esihle has been committed to outreach, helping to build houses for the homeless, a noble cause that has remained a motivator for her own success. When asked about being an influencer, Esihle said: “being an influencer means being true to the people who look up to you. It means being real with yourself and not putting up a facade. It means being relatable to your followers, so it can show everyone that their dreams are possible too.” Esihle loves camping and any activity that sees her out in mother nature. She yields inspiration from architecture and interior design. Follow Esihle to see her throw off her fear and become even more comfortable putting herself out there and unlearning her timid ways.
  
  
• Ofentse LekwaneInstagram handle: @ofentse lekwane “Known as Fancy Face to her friends, Ofentse Lekwane uses her platform to advocate for a more diverse beauty.” Ofentse Lekwane is a 32-year-old operations manager from the mining town of Bapong, currently residing in Pretoria. Ofentse is driven to bring diversity to the story of beauty and skin. Adding a much-needed layer to the story of inclusion and disability and rewriting the narrative around the concept of beauty. She brings a desire to help others overcome their own negative self-talk, after working through the experience on her own. Ofentse is inspired to use her platform to be a positive role model contributing to conversations around mainstream beauty and challenging beauty status quos. Follow ‘Fancy Face’ on her journey and see her fun-self shine through her content.
  
  
• Anarzade OmarInstagram handle: @Anarzadeomar “I live to inspire and to leave every woman I come across feeling more confident and fearless.”  Anarzade is from the south of Johannesburg and is motivated by the impact she has on the lives of others. Every message she receives from her followers about the positive influence she has made in their lives touches her. She sees every day as an opportunity for her to learn and grow. Anarzade is 22 years old and is a strategic communications graduate, who is working in Marketing. She has a great passion for beauty and lifestyle. Anarzade made it as far as the Top 15 of Miss SA 2020. When asked about not making it into the top 10 of the pageant she said: “absolutely everything happens for a reason” although “it took a lot of time alone and reflection to recover. No one takes rejection easily, but time and patience heals a lot of wounds.” Currently, her greatest challenge is overcoming the disappointment she feels in herself when she makes a mistake or does something wrong. A very relatable and authentic hurdle for her to rise beyond. Follow her inspiring and heart-warming journey of self-love and self-acceptance.
  
  
• Lesego MogonediwaInstagram handle: @peaches.za “I’m shy and socially awkward but let me get used to you and I will have the biggest mouth.”  Lesego Mogonediwa, known as Peaches, is a 20-year-old aviation student and YouTuber. Lesego has lived in Johannesburg all her life and has an established YouTube Channel which she uses to shares feminine health tips. Lesego is jumpstarting her influencing career and is looking forward to showcasing to the world her uncapped potential. When asked how being an influencer matters to her, she said: “It means now that I’m a role model, I can help women out there feel confident in their own skin.” She went on to say “What motivates me to succeed in the career that lies ahead of me is definitely my passion for content creation. I absolutely love photography & videography, especially the editing process, it’s a liberating feeling seeing your visions come to life.” Follow Lesego to see her express her creativity and share her knowledge.
  
  
• Dineo Jeniffer MapomaInstagram handle: @dineo_jeniffer “Skincare is one of the most important things that a dancer needs.” Dineo Jeniffer Mapoma, known as Jineo, is a 20-year-old dancer, studying performing arts in Pretoria. “As a young performer, I struggle with the day-to-day challenges of looking good on stage. Wearing stage make up, every day, gives me skin problems, like skin sensitivity and irritation. It is a big concern for me.” Accepting failure and having hope in the things that come ahead is what Jineo is working towards. She believes overcoming this is more than just resilience, it is about seeing yourself through a lens no one else can see you through. Having self-introspection, self-love and self-motivation. Women not only want to look good, but they want to feel good in themselves too. Jineo’s messaging and strength comes from unharnessing society's power over her. Daily, she throws off the chains of societal pressure, on what she should look like and what is acceptable in the norms of the millennial, to embrace her true self. Follow Jineo to feel confident in your own skin and learn routines that will work in your busy lifestyle.
  
  
• Ofentse MolefeInstagram handle: @Phenni_m “I’m abstaining from self-doubt”  Ofentse Molefe, is a 25-year-old educator who grew up in “awesome Soweto” and currently resides in Soweto, Protea North.  Nicknamed “Fenni”, Ofentse has a passion for photography and helping women ignite their most radiant skin. Ofentse is an empathetic person who thrives off sparking the fire of power in youth. She is committed to overcoming the imposter syndrome that deviates her from her life’s work of “enriching others through social engagement, photography, creativity and innovation.” This family-woman gets her support and strength from the union and intention of those closest to her. She has an interest in the liberating activities of photography and exercising. Follow Ofentse to live into the fullness of your radiance.
  
  
• Katleho MotaungInstagram handle:  @Katleho_Motaung_ “I’ve turned my flaws into superpowers.”  Katleho Motaung, is a 22-year-old financial accounting student born and raised in the small town of Frankfort in Free State. Kat, as she is fondly called, now resides in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng. She is passionate about skincare and took a leap of faith in becoming a skincare influencer. When asked what motivates her Kat repsonded: “What motivates me to succeed is my Mum, because I want her to experience the kind of lifestyle she couldn’t have when she was growing up”. Her mom and little sister are, not surprisingly, her greatest supporters. Follow Kat to see her expressing herself through her skincare routines and her interest in photography.
  
  
• Simone KrugerInstagram handle: @simone_kruger_ “Every plant has its own requirements in order to grow and so do people.”  Simone Kruger is a 22-year-old Veterinary Science student who adores animals. Hailing from the small town of Hertzogville in the Free State, Simone is living in Pretoria for her studies at Tuks. A self-proclaimed “outdoorsy person” Simone loves nothing more than to be in nature, hiking or swimming. Through her work, as an influencer, Simone is driven to grow and become a better woman. She is doing this by taking the chances and risks she has previously been too cautious to take. By seeing herself through her friends’ eyes, Simone can believe in herself, when previously she would have doubted herself. Follow Simone to see her resolution unfold of taking up opportunities she would have passed on before.

Follow the NIVEA Skinfluencers’ journey Follow the NIVEA Skinfluencers on their journey by following @NIVEASouthAfrica on Instagram and @NIVEASA on Facebook using #NIVEASkinfluencer.

Wian van den Berg will be one of the first African celebrities who is part of Binance’s global NFT launch 

Durban, South Africa - Wian van den Berg, Africa’s most famous TikToker with over 13 million followers is exclusively launching his first set of NFTs on Binance NFT, the NFT marketplace of the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world. To mark the launch of Binance’s NFT platform, Wian’s NFT launch will be part of Binance NFT ‘100 Creators’ ,  a new campaign on Binance NFT Marketplace, to support and promote innovative creators from around the world and spotlight exclusive NFT pieces from different cultures.

An NFT stands for “non-fungible token”, which is just a term used to describe a  unique digital asset, whose ownership is tracked on a blockchain. A blockchain is simply a digital ledger that records transactions. NFTs can be any digital file such as an image, video, pdf or a piece of music. NFTs are important as it now provides the opportunity for people to show proof that they own a digital asset. People purchase NFTs as collectibles, financial investments or to back their favourite creators, such as Wian.

Wian’s soon to be announced NFT collection will be the first launched by one of the largest social media influencers in Africa. He is also set to be the first magician in the Southern Hemisphere to sell his own original “how-to” magic trick as an NFT. This exclusive NFT collection launch is in alignment with both successful brands - one is the largest cryptocurrency marketplace globally, while the other is the largest TikToker in Africa.

Through Wian’s NFTs, he hopes to highlight his love of magic and how it is used to entertain, shock and inspire audiences. One of the NFTs that Wian will be launching is a magic trick that he has originally developed. Once sold, to the highest bidder, they will be the only person in the world who will know how to do the trick (unless they reveal it or sell it to another buyer). Various other images and GIFs will be made available as limited editions and aims to distinguish Wian from being a “traditional magician”.

Some of the NFTs purchased will give you access to special perks such as being one of the first people to be part of his soon to be released membership community, getting a personalized video with him, a Zoom or WhatsApp call, free access to his events and being featured on his social media. A portion of the proceeds from each NFT sale will also be donated to charitable causes in education and healthcare in Africa.

“A magician never reveals his secrets, unless he sells it as an NFT!”, says Wian van den Berg, the 25-year-old social media influencer and magician. “I am delighted to work with Shivad Singh and Yoshaan Hariparsaad, the directors of Blue Tick. They have educated me on what NFTs are, their benefits, including the full spectrum solution from NFT conceptualization to the minting process and have brought this amazing opportunity with Binance to the table.”

The NFT campaign hopes to be one of the first of many exclusive drops for Wian on Binance NFT. The NFT market is still in early stages, and Wian van den Berg has the long-term vision that is making him a pioneer influencer in this space, which can inspire other creators to launch their own NFTs and add value to their followers.

Blue Tick Events (Pty) Ltd: Blue Tick is an Influencer management agency that aims to work with the largest social media influencers in Africa and globally. The company provides and executes on “out-of-the box” ideas for them to earn recurring and sustainable income streams and benefit their fans. When it comes to NFTs, Blue Tick is a pioneer in this space with their partnership with Binance. Blue Tick handles the conceptualizations and designs of NFTs, secures exclusive drops for influencers, advises and executes on NFT approaches to maximise value, provides PR and calculates detail projections using actuarial analysis. Furthermore, Blue Tick’s social arm, the Head Start Foundation, is committed towards uplifting those in need by donating a portion of revenues to improve education and healthcare in Africa.

International study gives insight into how influencers celebrate Valentine’s Day, their shopping habits and who they look to for inspiration.

The study reveals that while 91% of influencers have celebrated Valentine’s Day at some point in their lives, days like Single Awareness Day or Galentine’s Day are increasingly popular.

It’s also about more than just romantic love: 42% of influencers bought a gift for their friends, 38% for themselves, and 12% for their pet.   In January 2019, over 1000 influencers participated in global influencer marketing platform indaHash’s Valentine’s Day study.

84% of influencers said that besides gifting their significant other, they spend money on friends, family, themselves, and their pets on Valentine’s Day. The study further reveals their shopping behaviours alongside new and different ways to reach audiences by harnessing the power of influencers around this time. 72% of influencers said that they look to other influencers for gift inspiration over TV ads, magazines, and brand websites.

This very much confirms the findings of indaHash’s holiday study, where 92% of influencers said their followers ask them for gift recommendations - proving that it’s not only followers looking to influencers, but also influencers looking to other influencers for spending inspiration. The majority of influencers (91%) claimed that when they’re in relationships, they love celebrating Valentine’s Day but not all of their followers always feel the same.

Alternative movements like the tongue-in-cheek ‘Singles Awareness Day’ (S.A.D.) and ‘Galentine’s Day’ are also widely celebrated, with only 9% of influencers choosing not to celebrate at all around this time. While many celebrate the romantic love associated with Valentine’s Day, it can also be a painful reminder of love lost or loneliness. Others think it to be a day adopted by brands to push people to buy, buy, buy. Such conflicting sentiments create the perfect opportunity for brands to think outside the box and connect with their customers in new, meaningful ways. 60% of influencers prefer experiences over material gifts for Valentine’s Day.

While everyone loves material presents, experiences are becoming a clear preference among millennials. 40% of influencers treat themselves with gifts or experiences when single and spend the day with friends and family.  Another millennial priority? Beloved pets! Millennials are crazy for their pets and with many having their own pet influencer Instagram accounts, they too are being treated with gifts - 12% of our survey group admitted they purchase Valentine’s Day gifts for their animal friends.

The indaHash study shows that 63% of influencers wait for Valentine’s Day deals before they buy, with 54% of influencers shopping for gifts online. Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity for brands to stand out and run engaging campaigns that speak to those in love, as well as to those who feel out of sorts around this time. For more on influencers' Valentine’s Day shopping behaviours and data-informed ideas on how to reach audiences through influencer and brand collaborations, go to the report.

ndaHash, a global technology influencer platform, continues its exponential growth into the African continent with its expansion into Nigeria. This move forms part of the global platform’s strategic plan to provide full coverage across Africa with Morocco, Tanzania and Kenya set to follow from early 2019. The Nigerian office will be led by Olatomi Kolawole who will be based in Lagos, and will be supported by Federico Dedeu, Vice President: Middle East and Africa indaHash.

Kolawole has numerous certifications to her name along with an impressive career history. Her roles include social media manager, account manager, customer relationship manager and head of strategy at the digital marketing agency she co-founded. She brings a wealth of skills and expertise to the Nigerian office. “Having offices in South Africa and Nigeria, and soon in Tanzania and Kenya, will provide us with strong footholds in Africa that will allow us to operate seamlessly across the region,” says Federico Dedeu, Vice President: Middle East and Africa, indaHash. “Nigeria is an extremely dynamic and challenging market that we felt was critical for the continued growth of indaHash in Africa.

The people are go-getters and trendsetters making them a superb fit for the indaHash ethos.”In addition to the vibrancy of the people and the market, Nigeria also presented a strong business opportunity for indaHash. The company considered many economic, demographic and technological data points in it’s business case before making the move. The reality is that Africa is a challenging market when compared to more established and mature ones such as the United States and the European Union but that should not stop any business from taking advantage of fresh opportunities.indaHash’s vision is to connect brands, social media influencers and content creators across the African continent and the globe.

Today, anyone with a smartphone, internet connection and a story to tell is able to grow an audience, which can be a very valuable asset.“Nigeria is one of those very complex markets when it comes to operationally doing business, however, the opportunity was there,” adds Dedeu. “The timing, the network and the right people were not only aligned, but ideally placed for this expansion. We felt that all these elements had come together perfectly for Nigeria, making it the ideal time to fully commit and enter this massive market.”

The company’s goal is to support the growth of the African social media entrepreneurs, influencers and content creators, helping them to maximise this business opportunity by collaborating with the world’s most amazing brands. Brands are able to benefit by leveraging a single partner to easily run campaigns across markets, while authentically having their message delivered in a localised and authentic way. “Nigeria will be one of our key strategic office hubs from which we will manage our West African markets,” concludes Dedeu.

“The plan is to scale up the team from a business development and delivery perspective so we have on the ground support. This will ensure we continue to build the best influencer marketing platform while providing brands with strategic advice and guidance in establishing their influencer marketing programmes.The indaHash Nigeria branch officially opened in November 2018 and has already started collaborations with new brands and influencers.

World’s fastest growing influencer marketing platform focuses on building a strong local team to deliver targeted services to the South African market(Johannesburg, South Africa) April 09, 2018 - indaHash, the global technology platform that connects more than 600,000 digital influencers has committed to expanding its South African footprint by investing in strong local talent. The team brings unparalleled strategic value and influencer marketing expertise to the South African market having already delivered successful campaigns for well-known global and local brands such as Coca-Cola, Telkom, Sony Mobile, Shell and Magnum.

“We believe it is key for us to develop a highly skilled local development team that specialises in influencer marketing and allows us to drive the business in a positive direction,” says Federico Dedeu, indaHash Business Development Leader, EMEA.Federico Dedeu is an experienced manager with more than 18 years of experience in the disciplines of marketing and advertising. He’s held senior roles at some of South Africa’s most prominent organisations, such as Wunderman and Mediacom, and has taken the lead on accounts for brands such as Coca-Cola and Standard Bank. Led by Federico, the new team comprises Hayley Wessels and Faheem Ahmed as the new Business Development Managers - both bringing extensive experience to the business.

The company will also be welcoming additional new members over the next few months to meet the exponentially growing demand for indaHash’s services. Faheem Ahmed has more than 12 years of experience in the advertising and media industry and with more than four years of hands-on influencer marketing expertise. He understands the South African landscape and has significant expertise in campaign execution and client management.

Hayley Wessels has more than eight years’ experience in the digital media industry with an extensive network of marketers, media buyers and brands. She understands how to deliver on the value and return on investment of influencer marketing and is focused on growing the business in South Africa.“While influencer marketing is still in its infancy, indaHash brings years of working experience to the market as the key members of our team have been involved since it began,” says Federico.

“We bring unparalleled strategic value and execution know how – recognising opportunities and pitfalls and advising our clients appropriately. We leverage the indaHash platform to provide our clients with bespoke campaigns and brand ambassador deals.”Brands and agencies will have direct access to the indaHash team, receiving the latest information about influencer marketing, trends, insights and even upskilling workshops.

The South African landscape may well be in the early stages of influencer marketing trend, but indaHash has created a team that assures brands, influencers and marketers of exceptional campaigns and support.“Our strong local team, supported by our advanced campaign management dashboard, will create personalised campaigns with extensive reach and engagement that will deliver unparalleled transparency, measurement and results” concludes Federico.