Camila Nkhama is a model, student in Stellenbosch University, and proud Zimbabwean immigrant. She spoke to SMF News’ Hannah Abrahams.
Camila Nkhama (22) is a Bachelor of Informatics Honours student at Stellenbosch University (SU) and the founder of House of Fashion Galore, an event in Stellenbosch that brings creatives, including fashion designers, stylists, visual artists and musicians, together to share their work. PHOTO: Hannah Abrahams
Her bold outfit is the first you will notice about her. An ankle-length bubble-shaped black skirt and large plaid button up shirt, a few sizes too big, with the words “Saved By Jesus” in bright yellow block letters written across the front. All tied together with black and white Asics sneakers.
“I feel like with fashion we need to be daring […] we need to take risks,” says Camila Nkhama, Bachelor of Informatics Honours student at Stellenbosch University (SU).
It is the day before House of Fashion Galore’s third-ever event in Stellenbosch, this year at the Hofmeyr Hall in Stellenbosch’s Church Street, and she has just gotten off the phone to confirm that all is in order.
From Harare to Stellenbosch
Camila Nkhama (22) was born in Zimbabwe in a village called Chegutu, but lived in Harare. She was four years old when she moved to South Africa with her family.
“Initially my dad came here in 2006,” she says. “Economically, Zimbabwe was just crashing [and] a lot of the mining companies were retrenching a lot of workers and my dad was [one] of them.”
After her father, who is an engineer, found employment in South Africa, Camila and her mother joined him in Cape Town in 2007.
“We lived in Dunoon for the first year but when the first xenophobic attacks happened in 2008, we moved to Table View,” she says.
The move also meant Camila was away from her two older sisters, who only joined the rest of the family in South Africa in 2009. They would make a final move to Brackenfell in Cape Town’s northern suburbs where Camila completed her schooling.
After she matriculated and secured a Rupert Foundation bursary, Camila had her sights set on an accounting degree.
“I was very passionate about wanting to become a chartered accountant. [But] I realised that I actually do not like accounting,” she says. “I don’t think people should just do things just for the sake of [it] because this is the one life you have.”
She made the switch to a BCom Information Systems degree and is currently completing her Bachelor of Informatics Honours at SU.
Education comes first
From a very young age, Camila knew it was important for her to excel academically.
“I think it has to do with everything my parents have done to get us here,” she says.
But her academic rigour has not been without its rewards.
Camila had the opportunity to visit Germany earlier this year to partake in an artificial intelligence hackathon, in partnership with Technische Universität Dresden. And when Camila was in grade 10, she was afforded the opportunity to travel to England, Wales, and Ireland. Also on an academic tour.
“Every single time I’ve been overseas has been because of academics […] it has opened so many doors for me.”
Social media and House of Fashion Galore
During the Covid-19 lockdown, Camila started experimenting with clothes and posting it on social media.
“I started having photo shoots in my mom’s room using curtains as backdrops,” she says.
She started cutting and reworking clothes she already had and making them into new items. She would then post herself wearing them.
“In grade 12 I got an opportunity to model for a brand called Nia Cia […] I bought something from them [and] I made content with it and that’s how they [found me].”
Since then, Camila also regularly models for a clothing brand called The Shopaholic. They also approached her after she had posted a photo on Instagram wearing one of their bikinis.
“When I was creating content I didn’t create it in the hopes that they would notice me,” she says.
Attendees of this year’s House of Fashion Galore event, held on 24 October, enjoying drinks and socialising. PHOTO: Hannah Abrahams
But it was during her second year at university that she got an itch to create something of her own. House of Fashion Galore was soon born.
“I was like: ‘You know what. What if I started something where people can come together and fashion enthusiasts can be in one space and celebrate fashion, celebrate art, celebrate anything that has to do with creativity’,” she says.
In 2024, Fashion Galore hosted two events in the Stellenbosch University Museum. The goal was simply to bring people together and celebrate fashion and creativity, says Camila.
This year, with the help of a few of her friends, House of Fashion Galore has grown and hosted their third-ever event in Hofmeyr Hall in Stellenbosch.
The event allowed a few local designers and stylists to showcase their work, as well as musical performances and displays of visual art and photography.
“Camila calls this her passion project,” says Lukhanyo Nkonzo, a final-year BA Sports Science student at SU and one of the organisers of this year’s Fashion Galore event.
“I immediately said yes,” says Siphokazi Mkhize, when Camila asked for her help with planning Fashion Galore this year. “Working alongside her has been so much fun […] and it’s lovely to see how this is coming to life.”
“I would say Fashion Galore is about celebrating creativity in all its essence,” says Camila Nkhama, founder of House of Fashion Galore and Bachelor of Informatics Honours student at Stellenbosch University. PHOTO: Hannah Abrahams
Where home is and her plans for the future
Camila says she has only been to Zimbabwe four times since first moving to South Africa.
“A lot of me is here in South Africa. My friends, my family, my education,” she says.
But when she thinks of home, a place does not come to mind.
“I don’t think of a place… I know [my] home is Zim, but the house is not there,” she says. “I think of people, I think of my family.”
Camila says her parents attempted to relocate to Zimbabwe in 2024. However, they returned to South Africa in June this year because of the economic volatility that comes with living there and the strain it put on her father’s business.
“In Zimbabwe’s economy, a lot of people are self-sufficient […] people run businesses,” she says. “I think that’s just the spirit of a lot of Zimbabweans: They’re hustlers.”
Camila says that her parents are wholeheartedly supportive of all of her creative endeavours.
“She is a hardworking individual, and very resourceful,” says Liyema Ndongeni, a close friend of Camila’s.
Camila plans to further her education next year by completing her Master’s degree on a part-time basis. While she has no intention of making a career out of social media or fashion, she will continue to explore both, simply because she enjoys it – proving that you don’t have to choose just one dream. And that if you want something to exist, there’s no reason why you cannot be the one to create it.
“I find that as soon as you try to monetise things that you are passionate about you also put yourself at the risk of falling out of love with it,” she says. “[I] just try to keep it as fun as possible.”
The House of Fashion Galore team involved in organising the most recent event. From left to right: Camila Nkhama, Sthe Ntshangase, Lukhanyo Nkozo, Siphokazi Mkhize and Thayanda Sonamzi. PHOTO: Hannah Abrahams