LANGA Lloyd rose to fame in her mid-20s strutting her stuff on the ramp and clinching the Miss Universe Zimbabwe in 1996.
Batanai Mutasa OWN CORRESPONDENT
She went on to represent Zimbabwe at the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas, United States, before settling in the United Kingdom.
Langa, now 45, will next Friday be back in the city that gave her fame to play her part in lifting Bulawayo from the economic doldrums when she opens Langa Cosmetics – a shop that will sell her own branded products.
Dark and beautiful Langa is better known for her looks, but ever since she stopped modelling, she has been busy building her name as an entrepreneur.
“I started modelling to build confidence because I knew after my studies there would be interviews in which I had to be sure of myself to get shortlisted for any job,” said the University of Zimbabwe political science graduate.
“As an awkwardly tall person I thought I had to be at peace with my body, thus I took to the ramp.
“Now it is very interesting that I have never been directly employed in my field of study and modelling has become fundamental in my life.”
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However, the former beauty queen said she still used her intellect to get by in life.
“For example, I knew when to stop modelling and try my hand at other things, which has propelled my business career — that is intellect where one doesn’t stay too long in their comfort zone,” she said.
With the same reasoning, she developed her own products — Langa Cosmetics – which are internationally recognised.
Langa Cosmetics will open its first Bulawayo branch in Parklands and will also accommodate four other women offering different services.
“I have another shop in Harare with the same concept where many people come in with different services under one roof,” she said.
“People from my home city, Bulawayo, have been requesting me through my website and social media to do the same here – now I am home.”
Langa’s shop will offer complete natural skincare from foundation to makeup. It will also incorporate body care such as lip and body scrubs.
“One thing I can promise is that if you come into our shop and we don’t have a shade to suit your skin tone, we will not just sell anything to you, but have one custom made for you because all the cosmetics we use are self-made and natural,” she said.
“I know the mistakes people make in makeup by compromising or experimenting with shades that don’t suit them.
“The problem is they end up using too much makeup or looking artificial, which is really what men don’t like.”
She already has a proven reputation in business circles.
This year she won the Zimbabwe International Women’s enterprenuer of the year award.
The accolade is given to the best businesswoman from Zimbabwe based locally or abroad.
“I realised that people are watching and it was amazing to receive that award,” she said.
“Now I am inspired to do even more because when I die, people should not run out of good things to say.”
Langa says her vision is to have her business headquarters in Bulawayo.
“The idea is to expand and grow to the extent that at one point I must make use of the factory space in Bulawayo,” she said.
“That is a big vision and we are starting small with a shop which we would like to develop as we grow. I am literally coming back home.”
Langa is married with one child. Through her Project Leaf Trust, she supports children at Homestead Primary School in Kezi to realise their dreams by facilitating various donations.
