Tausi Likokola on her latest book ‘Lessons Learned by 50’

Tausi has defied all the assumptions of what an international supermodel should do.

A holder of an MBA in German, Tausi’s life only brightened after her runway days.

She found her passion is writing and over the years she has penned several books but none more personal than her latest addition Lessons Learned by 50.

“This is my fifth book, and I’m thrilled to have achieved another milestone. If you’ve followed my journey, you’ll know that I’ve always written about the season I’m in,” she said.

After turning 50, she realised that she had learned some valuable life lessons over the years that could be helpful to others.

From her fashion era to her business endeavours, from motherhood to her activism, she has always tried to share her wisdom through newsletters, social media posts, and other platforms that she calls “wisdom nuggets”. That’s why she is writing this book.

“You can follow me on my social media accounts all under tausilikokola, and you can also read about my books on my author page at https://www.amazon.com/author/tausilikokolabooks,” she added.

She said her life has somehow been influenced by all her books.

For instance, her first book, The Art of Beauty and Health, was a result of her time in the fashion world, where she learned tips that she shared for beauty and health.

In her book The African Princess, which is a semi-biography, you’ll meet the young Tausi from Tanzania as she transitions to the glamorous world of fashion.

Then there’s Beautiful You, which aims to empower young women to develop healthy self-images and reach their full potential.

Her fourth book, The Touch of an Angel, is an autobiographical account of her journey as a mother who lost a child.

Lessons Learned by 50 somehow reflects her life experiences.

Tausi is the epitome of beauty, brains, and leadership.

As the definition of beauty morphs as days go by, In her 50s she still maintains her vigour, confidence, and self-love.

She shares it all in her books, if you get to read her books, You’ll find that she was once a very shy young woman who had to overcome her shyness and learn to stand in public, speak with presidents and heads of state, and empower others.

While she still has a bit of shyness, she has learned to embrace her uniqueness, including her height, influence, humble beginnings, and all that she has to work for.

“I realised at a young age standing tall at 5’ 11” that people turned their heads when I walked in, so I decided to channel that energy for the best by smiling. To those who focus on appearance, embrace the fact that we are all unique and formed. We will all age, but we have the potential to utilise everything within us and around us to better ourselves and others,” she mentioned.

Tausi broke into the modeling industry and has always been sexualised, as a young girl with religious values, this was the ultimate test of character and convictions.

She always found an anchor that kept her grounded.

“I’m not an angel, but my faith kept me grounded. I avoided parties and cliques that often lead to downfall. There are certain areas where socialising is necessary to meet clients and secure booked jobs, but even there, I have a time limit, and you won’t find me anywhere past 11 pm,” she said, referring to her modeling days.

She preferred sleeping at 10pm and waking up at 5am.

Boundaries are crucial to her, she has appeared in swimsuits innumerous publications, yet she remains completely comfortable in her skin.

And insisted the content she participated in was appropriate and not explicit or exploitative.

In a world where people are ready to ‘sell their soul’ for the sake of stardom, her faith has been the source of all her blessings and has helped her stay grounded throughout her journey.

“Selling a soul is a grave mistake that will haunt you forever. Before making any choices, ask yourself if you can live with the consequences. If the answer is no, then don’t do it,” she advised.

Transitioning from the catwalk to the boardroom, she found new challenges and heights to achieve in the investment sector, while her coffee business hasn’t yet turned a profit.

Her patience and quick learning are a virtue, she observed that many factors affect new businesses, which is why she has diversified her brand across different lifestyle areas.

This way, if one venture fails, she can focus on writing her books, filming a documentary, and checking in on her beauty products.

Having multiple income streams is a wise approach she said.

For instance, in the US, it can take 2-5 years to obtain the necessary certifications to operate an ingestive product, and in Tanzania, it took her over a year to just secure the trademark.

To avoid getting stuck in these processes, she outsourced her work from East Africa.

She only ventures into a particular business when the conditions are right and align with her passions.

While rebranding can be challenging, she leveraged her existing connections and reputation to make it easier to enter new markets.

She positioned herself as a serious businesswoman, not just a model.

As she still learning and growing, she always says, “I’m a scholar of all things life.”

As one of the most Internationally recognised Tanzanians, Tausi has been trying for over two decades, ever since she lived in Germany, to make Tanzania a top tourist destination.

She worked with both the private sector and the government to achieve this goal.

Just a year ago, she completed filming a documentary showcasing Tanzania’s attractions to the world.

She met with the Tanzania Tourist Board and even reached airlines and streaming platforms to promote Tanzania as a tourist gem.

However, many challenges sometimes make her pause and re-evaluate her efforts.

When the time is right, with the right political climate and government support, she believes that Tanzania has the potential to become a serious tourist destination.

Many people in the diaspora can contribute to this effort.

However, she said, they still need to be recognised and for the country to welcome the contributions of the diaspora.

We are seeing a rise in BBL (“Brazilian butt lift”) surgeries and the downside of it, and Tausi is dismayed, “This is truly tragic. Can you imagine a woman changing their appearance to conform to a season or someone else’s definition of beauty?” she queried.

What happens when that trend passes and a new one emerges? She added God created us all in unique shapes and appearances.

We can enhance our natural beauty through exercise, and healthy routines, she is not against medical surgeries for health reasons, but she firmly believes that altering our looks solely to be accepted is not a positive or empowering approach.

We have the power to love and appreciate ourselves and our God-given beauty.

She cherishes her slender, healthy body and everything about herself.

She urges women to embrace self-love and make the most of their natural beauty.

In the long run, surgeries often lead to further complications.

At 50, Tausi is challenging the status quo, she believes that with age comes maturity, and individuals become more daring because they gain experience in what works best for them.

She transitioned from the beauty industry to television, books, serial entrepreneurship, charities, and activism, and her journey continues as she discovers God’s plans for her.

She encourages others to step out of their comfort zones and pursue their passions.

However, it’s important not to spread yourself too thin across multiple areas without proper knowledge and research, unless you’re willing to invest time and effort in learning about each industry.

She insists the road to success has no timeline, It’s never too late to begin something, she said, despite her success, she said she hasn’t reached the level of success she envisioned yet.

Many people have started their careers at advanced ages, such as 30, 40, and even 50, and achieved remarkable success.

Success holds different meanings for various people.

Some define it as wealth, while others measure it by the positive impact they make or other accomplishments.

“Ultimately, you define your definition of success and take action to achieve it,” she said.

To young people facing frustration in life, her advice to young people facing adversity in their lives is to hang in there - precious ones.

We’ve all gone through hardships and emerged from those dark tunnels.

She insists that they should know that better days are ahead.

She strives to write books that resonate with others, like “Beautiful You” for young women.

She has hosted TV programs filled with growth tips, and even her published books offer valuable insights to help one become the best version of themselves.

She is active on all social media platforms.

She can’t respond to all messages or help everyone.

Whenever possible, feel free to reach out to her there, or read one of her books for self-help.

You can also follow her educational posts.

“Hopefully, in God’s time, I’ll also I will do more on YouTube.

So, be where I am, and I’ll do my best to fulfill my purpose and help others,” she said.

Tausi has been an advocate for people with albinism in Tanzania, she has spoken on behalf of individuals with Albinism, those affected by HIV/AIDS, and those who have faced general social injustices.

As Tanzania prepares for elections, she reminds Tanzanians to be fair to our neighbors and condemns all violent attacks against people with albinism that are perpetuated during the election season.

She is a mentor to many, with her ‘lesson learned by 50’ book out, she wishes she had a big sister or a mentor who could have told her early that she was unique, different, beautiful, and special.

She said, We should always compliment ourselves, and it all starts at home.

She makes sure to do this for her daughter and other young women around her.

For some reason, as children, we rarely hear our parents express their love and encouragement to us, urging us to strive for greatness.

Perhaps the circumstances have changed since then, but it’s crucial to inform young people about this as it helps improve their self-esteem and sense of self-worth.

She strives to live her life without remorse or regrets.

Every experience she had in life shaped who she had become.

The love and support she receives from others, coupled with her faith, compels her to serve and assist others.

She makes it a point to live by this truth, always seeking opportunities to contribute and help.

“It’s through helping others that we discover our purpose and find balance in life.

Each individual possesses a unique talent or resource that can benefit someone else,” she said.

“By lending a helping hand, we create a positive cycle that enhances the well-being of everyone involved,” she concluded.