South African women are beautiful in both long and short hair, but there’s a bold, loud voice, that screams I am confident, I know who I am, and I am not defined by society pressures that centers those who shave it all off.
Chiskop, a South African term for shaving off your hair is most popular among men with some confident women making it work for them too. While there are many celebrities who from time to time confidently rock their chiskop, we have selected five out of the lot for your reading pleasure.
Shudufhadzo Musinda
Shudu took singer India Arie’s lyrics “I am not my hair” to greater heights when she entered and worn the biggest beauty pageant in the country, Miss South Africa in 2020, beating many hopefuls with different kinds of hairstyles. The beauty queen who recently released her second novel titled, ‘I am Shudu, Finding My Voice, Knowing My Power’ not only cemented herself as the first queen to fit the crown in a bald head, but she instilled confidence to women young and old. Shudu’s win was also seen by others as a symbol of hope for women with hair issues and conditions that have seen them loose their hair sending a message that says you are beautiful just as you are.
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Nandi Madida
In an interview with podcaster MacG held a few weeks ago, an MacG asked Zakhele “Zakes Bantwini” Madida, husband to Nandi what he loved most about his wife? Answering the question Zakes also asked his interviewer, “What is there not to love about my wife?” Echoing the same sentiments, what is there not to love about this gorgeous mother of two who not only stands for loving yourself fully but symbolises all things natural hair. She oozes confidence, pride with a whole lot of Africanism. Having aligned her brand with the natural look, Nandi’s photos are a reference at many hair salons in Mzansi.
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Zikhona Sodlaka
Prior to rocking the gorgeous bald look that she now mostly keeps, talented actress and mother of one Zikhona Sodlaka used to keep her hair natural and short. Since shaving it all off to a chiskop, the Gqeberha series actress looks absolutely breath taking. The award-winning actress can easily be mistaken for a 25-year-old when in her chiskop.
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Zoleka Mandela
The late-global activist and mother of six Zoleka Mandela is another public figure who was known to look extra gorgeous with chiskop. Even though she suffered from cancer, the author of “When Hope Whispers” somehow made the chiskop look like it was created by her. Zoleka has also experimented with many other hairstyles, but her bald look remains one of her best looks ever.
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Duma Ntando
Even though Ntando Duma is now into many different hairstyles, a chiskop was once the actress and singer’s signature look. When counting names of celebrities who made the look super cool her to be among the top names. Ntando shot into mainstream popularity as a young girl who had her hair shaved off. The mother of one continued the hairless look for many years after that, getting many people to follow in her footsteps.
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Also see: ‘Idols took my brand and stardom to another level’- Somizi