Ugandan socialite, business woman and reality TV Star Zari Hassan, 44, was recently in Kenya for a Samsung campaign as the Brand Ambassador for East Africa since her appointment last year. The actress who resides in South Africa, where she runs businesses is also famed for dating Tanzanian musician Diamond, with who they have two children and appearing on the reality show Young, Famous and African.
If you look at the world right now, women are dominating places that men thought women would never step in. For me, turning around my life from being a socialite to a businesswoman is a testament to this.
To be able to run a fully-fledged business recognised by the South African government is a motivation. I used to admire women like Oprah Winfrey, and Viola Davis just to mention a few, who came from nothing and became something.
For the young women looking up to me, I will always say this, the social life is good, you know the socialite lifestyle and all, but after that what next? You must figure this out. For me, I needed something to do and that’s how I got into entrepreneurship.
My proudest achievement is being a mother because I think that’s one job that I do well. But also being a successful business owner in a country like South Africa, where Xenophobia is quite big with a foreign-owned business fully recognised by the government is a source of pride.
People look at Zari, and all they see is a finished product, but don’t look at my journey, the history from where I started. I came from nothing, I came from the scams and flows in the UK. I will say it again and again: I used to be a maid working towards the top.
Some people are lucky that they don’t get to go through the process to get to the top and some we needed to work hard to get there. I used to do some cleaning at some office, I was a tea girl. You always have to start from somewhere.
Business and everything else can crush but my family comes first. It's my priority because they will always be here.
I am proud seeing my boys turn into entrepreneurs having raised them from a very young age as a single mum since the passing of their father. To see the discipline in them having been exposed to so many things, money, and luxury since their younger age but still staying grounded means I did a good job. My boys remain humble and are well-behaved.
Young, Famous, And African is not as scripted as most people think. The show is as it is. Ahead of season three, I got married so it had to feature in the season, and as such Shakib being officially my husband I had to introduce him to the group as the new member.
From Kenya, a celebrity who can bring something to the show is Vera Sidika. She can bring the nyash, and throw in a few punches. She looks like us. From Tanzania I don’t see anyone, they aren’t dramatic like us, they are big on gossip.
Tanzanians just love udaku and that’s it, I don’t think udaku can work on Young, Famous and African. But I would love to see Zuchu cast. She is feisty, I kind of feel like she would stir things a little bit if she is on the show. Tanasha whom I speak to all the time by the way, and even have our children FaceTime, I don’t think she can make it to Young Rich and Famous. She is this good girl so reserved, she would be a misfit.
