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 actress model businesswoman
Years active	2002–present
Partner(s)	AKA (2015–2017)

Bonang Dorothy Matheba (born on June 25, 1987) is a famous South African television presenter, radio personality, actress, and businesswoman. She is well-known for her exciting presenting style and unique voice. Many people call her "Queen B."

Bonang became famous after hosting the SABC 1 music show LIVE (now Live Amp). In 2011, she was the first South African celebrity to launch an online reality show called B*Dazzled. She also made history in 2013 as the first international ambassador for the makeup brand Revlon outside the United States.

In 2014, Bonang hosted the pre-show for the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards. This made her the first South African to host this special event. In 2015, she was the first African person to have an E! News Special Africa on E!. Bonang is very popular on social media, with over 5 million followers on Instagram and Twitter.

In 2016, she was featured on the cover of Forbes Woman Africa magazine. She was recognized as one of the "Faces of Entrepreneurship." She released her book From A to B and started her own reality show Being Bonang in 2017. In 2024, she presented 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 age 15 in 2002. She appeared on the SABC 2 kids show, Manhattan Fantasy Challenge. She also featured in other children's shows on SABC 2. In 2007, she auditioned for the music show LIVE (now Live Amp) on SABC 1. She won the chance to co-host the show.

Her hosting skills were a big hit, and that's when she earned the nickname "Queen B." She left LIVE on August 31, 2012. After that, she hosted many other popular shows. These include Clash of the Choirs SA, Afternoon Express, Top Billing, and KFC Taste Kitchen.

Bonang has hosted many important award shows and events. Some of these include the MTV Africa Music Awards 2016 and Miss South Africa 2018. She also hosted 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.

In 2019, Bonang starred in and helped produce the documentary film Public Figure. It first showed at the Manchester Film Festival on March 9.

In 2017, Bonang started her own production company called Bonang Matheba Entertainment. This company produces her reality show, Being Bonang. The show, aired on 1Magic, 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. She also hosted the Miss South Africa 2024 pageant.

In July 2024, Bonang announced her new reality show, B’Dazzled by Bonang. It premiered on SABC 3 on July 29. In September 2024, she was announced as the host of the Miss Universe pageant. Bonang will also co-host the Earthshot Prize Awards in Cape Town on November 6, 2024, with Billy Porter.

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 hosted the show The Front Row. Her show had a large and happy audience. However, she later had a disagreement with the radio station's manager. This happened after a change in the show's lineup without her being told. Bonang resigned from the radio station the next day because she was upset about the lack of communication.

Fashion Ventures

In 2008, Bonang worked with the retailer Legit to launch her first clothing line, "Just B." She also partnered with a designer from London. Together, they created a handbag collection called "Baby Star."

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

In 2018, Bonang collaborated with Superbalist. They released a collection of T-shirts named "BONANG by Bonang Matheba." These T-shirts featured some of Bonang's famous sayings. These included "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 luxury sparkling wine range. It is called "The House of BNG." This partnership made her the first black woman to be part of the Méthode Cap Classique Association. This is a special group for South African sparkling wine producers.

Other Exciting Projects

Endorsement Deals

In 2013, Bonang became the ambassador for the makeup brand Revlon in South Africa. This was a big deal, as she was the first international ambassador for the brand outside the United States.

In October 2016, Bonang was announced as an ambassador for the vodka brand Cîroc in Africa. She joined other famous personalities like fashion designer David Tlale.

After a trip to Brazil in 2017, she became the new African Brand Ambassador for Ipanema sandals. She took over 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. As part of this deal, she launched her own mobile app and an emoji pack called "BMoji." Bonang has also endorsed other brands. These include Peugeot, BIC Razors, Brutal Fruit, Diva Divine Hair, Lifestyle Pads, and Courvoisier.

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

Writing

On June 7, 2017, Bonang released her autobiography called From A to B. It was published by Black Bird Books. The book initially received some criticism from the public. Many people pointed out spelling, grammar, and factual errors on social media. Because of this, the book was temporarily removed from store shelves by Exclusive Books. A second edition was later released with many of the errors corrected.

Filmography

Television

Film

Accolades

Bonang Matheba has won many awards throughout her career. Here are some of her achievements: