Bonang Matheba facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bonang Matheba
Born	(1987-06-25) 25 June 1987 (age 38) Mahikeng,North West, South Africa
Other names	Queen B Your Girl B
Education	Fourways High School
Alma mater	University of Johannesburg
Occupation	Television presenter radio personality author entrepreneur
Years active	2002–present

Bonang Dorothy Matheba (born June 25, 1987) is a famous South African television presenter, radio personality, author, and businesswoman. She is well-known for her exciting presenting style and her special voice. She became famous after hosting the SABC 1 music show LIVE, which is now called Live Amp. In 2006, she hosted a late-night game show where people called in to guess puzzles and win money.

In 2011, Bonang made history by launching her own online reality show called B*Dazzled. This was the first time a South African celebrity did something like this. In 2013, she became the first international ambassador for the makeup brand Revlon outside of the United States.

Bonang continued to achieve many "firsts." In 2014, she hosted the pre-show for the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards, making her the first South African to do so. In 2015, she was the first African person to have a special show about her on E! News Africa. Bonang is very popular online, with over 5 million followers on Instagram and Twitter.

In 2016, she appeared on the cover of Forbes Woman Africa. She was featured as one of the "Faces of Entrepreneurship" for her business success. In 2017, she released her book From A to B and started her own reality show called Being Bonang. In 2018, she was featured in the "power issue" of GQ SA magazine. In 2024, Bonang hosted the Earthshot Prize Awards in Cape Town, South Africa. This was the first time the awards were held in an African country.

Early Life and Education

Bonang Matheba was born on June 25, 1987, in Mahikeng, North West, South Africa. Her mother, Charlotte Mokoena, is a top executive at Sasol. Her father, Gampi Matheba, is a senior lecturer at North-West University. Bonang belongs to the Tswana ethnic group.

Her family later moved to Leondale, in the East of Johannesburg. Bonang attended Fourways High School, a public school in Fourways, Johannesburg.

Bonang's Career Journey

Television and Film Work

Bonang started her television career at just 15 years old in 2002. She appeared on the SABC 2 kids' show Manhattan Fantasy Challenge. She also appeared in other children's shows on SABC 2. In 2007, after leaving university, Bonang tried out for the new SABC 1 music show LIVE. She won the audition and became a co-host alongside Tbo Touch. Her hosting skills were a big hit, and that's when she earned her famous nickname, "Queen B." She left the show on August 31, 2012.

After LIVE, Bonang hosted many other popular shows. These included Clash of the Choirs SA, Afternoon Express, Top Billing, and KFC Taste Kitchen.

Bonang has also hosted many important award shows and events. Some of the most notable include the MTV Africa Music Awards 2016, Miss South Africa 2018, and the pre-shows for the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards and BET Awards 2016. On December 2, 2018, Bonang co-hosted the Global Citizen: Mandela 100 concert. She shared the stage with famous people like comedian Trevor Noah and supermodel Naomi Campbell.

..... In 2019, Bonang starred in and helped produce a documentary film called Public Figure. The film was shown for the first time on March 9 at the Manchester Film Festival.

In 2017, Bonang started her own production company called Bonang Matheba Entertainment. This company produces her reality show, Being Bonang, which is shown on 1Magic. The show gives viewers a look into Bonang's daily life.

In May 2022, she co-hosted the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards. In August 2023, Bonang was announced as the host of the Miss South Africa pageant for 2023. She also hosted the Miss South Africa pageant in 2024. Towards the end of July 2024, Bonang announced that her new reality show, B’Dazzled by Bonang, would start on SABC 3 on July 29. In early September 2024, Bonang was announced as the host of the Miss Universe pageant. Bonang, along with Billy Porter, hosted the Earthshot Prize Awards in Cape Town on November 6, 2024.

Radio Career

In 2009, Bonang joined the radio station YFM. She got her own weekend afternoon show called "The B* Hive." This show was very popular, especially with young listeners. She left YFM in 2014.

In 2015, Bonang became a new radio DJ for Metro FM. She took over the show "The Front Row." Her show had many happy listeners. However, she had a disagreement with the radio station's manager. This happened after the show's schedule was changed, and Bonang was asked to host with Lerato Kganyago without being told beforehand. Bonang was upset about the lack of communication and resigned from the radio station the very next day.

Fashion Ventures

In 2008, Bonang worked with the clothing store Legit to launch her first clothing line, "Just B." She then teamed up with a designer from London to create a handbag collection called "Baby Star."

In 2014, the well-known South African retail brand Woolworths announced a partnership with Bonang. They launched a lingerie (underwear) line called "Distraction By Bonang." This collection is still ongoing, with new designs being released regularly.

In 2018, Bonang worked with Superbalist to release a collection of T-shirts called "BONANG by Bonang Matheba." These T-shirts featured some of Bonang's famous quotes, such as "Mo'ghel," "Give The People What They Want," and "#IAmBonang."

The House of BNG

On March 18, 2019, Bonang partnered with Woolworths to launch her own line of luxury sparkling wine called "The House of BNG." This special wine is known as Méthode Cap Classique (MCC). This achievement made her the first black woman to be part of the Méthode Cap Classique Association.

Other Exciting Projects

Endorsements and Partnerships

In 2013, Bonang was chosen as the ambassador for the makeup brand Revlon in South Africa. This was a big deal because it made her the first international ambassador for Revlon outside of the United States.

In October 2016, Bonang became an ambassador for the vodka brand Cîroc in Africa. She joined other famous people like fashion designer David Tlale and hip-hop artist Da L.E.S.

After a trip to Brazil in 2017, Bonang was named the new African Brand Ambassador for Ipanema sandals. She took over this role from the Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen. During her trip, she met with the sandal-makers and even filmed an advertisement in Rio de Janeiro.

In 2018, Bonang signed a deal with the cellular network Cell C. This partnership led to her launching her own mobile app and a set of emojis called "BMoji." Bonang has also worked with other brands like Peugeot, BIC Razors, Brutal Fruit, Diva Divine Hair, Lifestyle Pads, and Courvoisier.

In 2020, Bonang was announced as Samsung South Africa's ambassador for their S20 phone range and the Z Flip. In September 2020, she was featured on the cover of Glamour Magazine with model Rich Mnisi.

Writing a Book

On June 7, 2017, Bonang released her autobiography, From A to B. The book was published by Black Bird Books. When the book first came out, it received some negative feedback from the public. Many people on social media pointed out spelling, grammar, and factual errors in the book. Because of this, the book was removed from store shelves by the large book retailer Exclusive Books. A second edition was later released, which corrected many of the original errors.

Personal Life

Bonang has kept details about her relationships and personal life mostly private in recent years.

Filmography

Television Appearances

Film Appearances

Awards and Recognitions

African Entertainment Awards USA

National Film and Television Awards