12 hours with Gorgeous Mbali

Mbali Sebapu is a social media influencer who is popularly known as Gorgeous Mbali by her followers  Mbali, who spent about 10 years in the military, has also added businesswoman to her growing list of titles. She is the founder of Hermosa Flor cosmetics – products that she says she wants to help accentuate the beauty of any woman or member of the LGBTQ+ community. Hermosa Flor means beautiful flower in Spanish and also relates to her name – Mbalenhle which also means beautiful flower

From being fitness goals, to fashion goals and now entrepreneurship goals, we caught up with Mbali to find out what she ordinarily gets up to on a daily.

06:30 – 07:00 I wake up and get ready for gym. I sometimes go in the morning or in the afternoon; it all depends on the type of day I have planned. If it’s a busy morning, then I go to gym in the afternoon. 

07:00 – 08:00 I have a smoothie and black coffee before I go to the gym. Kale, mango, banana, almond milk and sometimes oats are my go-to ingredients for a delicious smoothie. When I’m at the gym I love going for a class: my favourite is a heat class. 

08:15 – 08:45 I take a shower and get ready to start my day. I dress according to the kind of meetings I have lined up for the day. If it’s a relaxed meeting, I can even go wearing sweatpants. That’s usually when I’m meeting up with Hermosa Flor packaging and delivery suppliers – I dress as comfortably as I want. But if it’s a formal meeting I wear something nice but not too serious because I still want to be comfortable. 

09:00 – 09:45 I eat breakfast; my go-to breakfast meal is oats with berries. I then browse my socials – I start with my Instagram DMs and comments and then move to WhatsApp. I rarely check my Facebook, I visit it once a week. I’m not on Twitter anymore because it’s toxic. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mbali Sebapu 🇿🇦 (@gorgeous_mbali)

10:00 – 12:00 I attend meetings or shoot product content for the Hermosa Flor page in the mini studio I created at home. During this time, I usually listen to relaxed music, such as Snoh Aalegra and Elaine. I normally go to my Pinterest page for some creative inspo for my product shoots. 

13:00 – 17:00 I go out for lunch with my friend. I make sure that I’m always dressed up for my lunches because this is where Insta content is generated. My outfits always go according to what the weather’s like. I like wearing summer dresses or jeans and a sheer or light blouse when it’s sunny and warm. If the weather’s gloomy I go for jeans, a T-shirt, blazer (a must!) and heels or sneakers. I sometimes wear a short skirt and stockings with Chelsea boots and a poloneck. I usually use my phone for pictures and my friend takes the pictures. 

We like places that aren’t too full and popular; we like trying out new spots in Joburg. I always order warm water with lemon before I eat. I prefer having something light and healthy – something along the lines of couscous salad. 

17:00 – 19:30 I go back home and read a book or something, before I start preparing dinner. I make veggies with meat – that’s what I often have. I’m a really good cook. I can give Somizi a run for his money! Lol! I usually set up the dinner table and then have dinner with my partner. No TV or phones during this time. 

19:30 – 20:00 I catch up on the soapies Isibaya, The River and The Queen and I check my socials with the TV playing in the background, but I make sure that I go to bed at around 10pm. I always pray before I sleep every day – I usually ask God for protection, for Him to use me and prepare me for my blessings. I also pray for my family and friends and for sick people. 

Gorgeous Mbali Trivia

The one meal you never get tired of? 

Half skop, I’m a township girl and that’s my favourite township food. It’s my dad’s favourite, too 

Lip gloss, lipstick or lip balm? 

Depends, but lipstick during the day and lip gloss at night to moisturise my lips after a full day of matte lipstick. 

One beauty trick you wish women would apply? 

I wish they’d brush their eyebrow hairs with a mascara brush first before using eyebrow pencil or powder, it thickens and makes them look natural. 

First makeup item you fell in love with or one that made you want to explore makeup? 

My mom’s eyebrow pencil. 

The best and worst clothing item ever created? 

The best is jeans. I can’t think of the worst. 

I can’t live without: heels, sunglasses, good hair or makeup? 

Sunglasses 

Favourite form of art? 

Music – Elaine’s actually my favourite artist and I love her Elements EP. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mbali Sebapu 🇿🇦 (@gorgeous_mbali)

An ideal travel destination must have…? 

Ocean views, private villa, private pool and a bae. 

The one fruit or vegetable (or both) that is not celebrated enough? 

Watermelon. 

What does luxury mean to you? 

Good quality. 

The hardest habit to kick that you picked up from the military? 

How I say time. I say thirteen hundred hours instead of one o’clock. 

Where do you prefer conducting business: in the office, at a restaurant or over the phone? 

At home over the phone. 

Which aspect of admin do you most despise? 

Bookkeeping. 

The greatest lesson that business taught you about people and yourself? 

Patience is a virtue and that as a service provider you must always remain calm. 

The best and worst business advice you’ve received? 

The best is always have a strategy/ plan that foresees how you intend on growing the business. I haven’t received the worst yet. 

Your current fave businessperson or gamechanger? 

Can I say myself? Lol, kidding. I think it’s Fezeka Simelane – she owns a beauty salon called Dolce Looks. I like a consistent queen who understands the power of social media marketing and takes advantage of it. 

Philosophy you live by or your favourite quote? 

“Positive thinking is powerful thinking” 

Find Hermosa Flor Cosmetics on social media: IG: @Hermosa_flor_cosmetics. Twitter: @_Hermosaflor. Facebook: Hermosa Flor Cosmetics 

Find Gorgeous Mbali on social media:  IG: @gorgeous_mbali. Facebook: Mbalenhle Sibapu