ROMANCING LIFE: A VALENTINE’S CONVERSATION WITH ZWELO

As Valentine’s Day approaches, we often find ourselves reflecting on love, life and the little things that make our hearts swoon. This month, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Zwelo Dube, a gorgeous make-up artist from Ezulwini, who shared her thoughts on love, self-care and what this day means to her. With her passion for her craft, a radiant outlook on life and a heart full of gratitude, she is a true embodiment of what it means to love yourself and others.

Born and raised in the serene town of Ezulwini, Dube is a proud make-up artist with a genuine passion for her work. “I enjoy making women feel beautiful and bringing out some confidence in each one of them,” she says with a smile. Her artistry goes beyond make-up, it is about empowerment, leaving every client glowing not just on the outside, but on the inside too.

Downtime

Outside of her work, the beautician enjoys her downtime. “On a normal day, I love spending time alone, Netflix and chilling, or hanging out with friends and sharing a good laugh,” she shares. A self-proclaimed foodie, she also loves cooking and experimenting with new recipes, especially dishes that remind her of her childhood. “I grew up in a big household with siblings and grandparents, so creating meals that remind me of home is so comforting,” she reflects.

Dube describes herself as a highly-positive and self-aware person. “I always see the good in something, no matter what. I believe that things happen for a reason and there’s always a positive side to every circumstance,” she explains. Her self-awareness allows her to understand her emotions, thoughts and how her actions impact others. Communication is another strength she takes pride in as she believes she is a good listener who can hold a conversation quite well.

However, like all of us, she has her weaknesses. “My kindness can sometimes be my downfall,” she admits. “Being kind is a good thing, but people can take advantage of it.” She also mentions her struggle with perfectionism, especially when it comes to her work. “I want everything to be perfect when I do a client’s face. I won’t let them leave my chair until I’m satisfied with the overall look, but sometimes, that puts me behind schedule,” she said.

For Dube, Valentine’s Day is more than just a celebration of romance. “It’s a reminder of the love we all need at the end of the day, it’s also a day to celebrate being loved and to love others,” she said. However, she firmly believes that love should not be confined to just one day. With the right person who truly loves and appreciates you, every day should feel like Valentine’s Day, because everyone deserves to be celebrated every day.

Emphasises

When asked about how she defines love in her life, Dube emphasises the importance of self-love. “More than anything, love comes from within. Self-love is truly the most important, because you need to know how you want to be loved and what you won’t tolerate. When you love yourself, you understand what you deserve,” she said. Friendships are another source of love in Dube’s life as she loves her friends so dearly. “It always feels like life is worth living again when they’re around.

I’m absolutely grateful for their presence,” she said. While she doesn’t believe in love at first sight, Dube believes in attraction at first sight and the importance of building a connection over time. When it comes to Valentine’s Day traditions, the young lady values the little things. “Of course, I’d appreciate someone going overboard for me, but it’s the little things that make me happy, like quality time or going out for a nice dinner,” Dube said. Her ideal gift? “Flowers, always, any day.

Surprise

“They are so beautiful and bring out my inner child. It is always a pleasant surprise when flowers are involved,” she exclaims. Dube also practices self-love all year-round, self-care is a big part of her routine. She nourishes her body and health by going to the gym, which helps her feel good both mentally and physically. Dube spends time with herself to embrace her solitude and remind herself of who she truly is. She is grateful for everything each day and makes sure to prioritise herself before expecting someone else to do it for her. Romanticising her life is another way Dube practises self-love. “I find positives and pleasure in every small or big thing,” she says. Her mantra, ‘A new day, means new blessings and new opportunities’.

Even on days when she feels demotivated, these words help her stay grounded. When it comes to Valentine’s Day dreams, Paris tops her list. “It’s the city of love and the romantic enticement of Paris is unbeatable,” she says. A lover of romance, her favourite book is ‘The Kiss’ by Danielle Steel. She read it years ago, but still remembers the love and compassion in that story.  Her sense of style is another way she expresses herself. She love’s recreating looks from Pinterest or Instagram and at times, she will just put pieces together and find that it looks as good as she imagined. Locally, she admires influencers like Mamakatessa and her tailor, redstore_sd on Instagram.

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