Born in a small town near Pretoria, north of Johannesburg, and raised in Alexandra from school-going age, Kamogelo Sebati has always understood the importance of confidence — not just as a feeling, but as a tool for survival and success. Her passion lies in helping people look and feel their best. What started as a small operation from her family home has now blossomed into Pretty Little Thing Beauty Bar — a stylish and inviting salon just a few steps from where she grew up.

Kamogelo offers a range of beauty services, including lash installations, weave fittings and professional nail care, catering mostly to the women of Alex who trust her not just for her skill, but for the safe and welcoming space she has created. Unlike many township salons that prioritise speed over setting, she takes pride in offering an environment that is serene, clean and aesthetically pleasing — a place where women can breathe, bond and be pampered.

But building a beauty brand in a township comes with unique challenges. Business is highly seasonal, with madly busy periods followed by long quiet stretches. What’s more, Alexandra’s crammed streets and limited transport options discourage potential clients from outside the area from visiting her salon — even when her quality matches that of high-end city beauty bars. Yet despite these obstacles, Kamogelo remains undeterred.

Now in her fourth year of studying towards an LLB through correspondence, she is playing the long game — investing in both her education and her business. Her next goal is to expand beyond Alex and open additional branches in neighbouring areas. She is not waiting to be discovered or endorsed; she is quietly building, one client at a time, until Pretty Little Thing becomes a name recognised far beyond township borders.