Former Big Brother contestant Fortunate “Nate” Setwaba launched make-up brand NateArtistry.
She’s been out of the Big Brother Mzansi season five house for more than a year. Yet her wit, style, and bubbly personality have kept her loyal supporters. Now, Limpopo born , makeup artist, and influencer Fortunate “Nate” Setwaba has a treat for her her in the form of a luxury make-up brand, NateArtistry, set to be available in her online store on 26 November 2025.
She has been experimenting with face paint and make-up since her early teens. By the time she hit varsity, she considered herself highly skilled.
She grew up very ambitious.
“I used to watch motivational speakers and public figures and ask myself why people wait until they’re older to achieve their dreams. I decided early that age wouldn’t be a limitation for me — and I proved it,” she tells Buzz Life News.
“ I coordinated my first event, a pageant, at 12 years old. I started a charity campaign called Regarding Our Feelings To Others ( ROFTO). I adopted a daycare that was about to close down at 16. became a photographer and makeup artist at 15. So this was always nothing far-fetched,” she says.
“My childhood had challenges, like anyone’s, but those experiences shaped me. Growing up in a house with six siblings was chaotic, but full of love. My parents and siblings are my biggest supporters, even when they don’t always understand all my career paths.”
While the beauty industry was appealing, she also had a passion for the medical disciplines. “I knew I wanted to be in healthcare, but nothing related to blood,” she banters.
So, she enrolled at Tshwane University of Technology to study prosthetics and orthotics,while also doing content creation. It was only a matter of time before she ventured into a full-time beauty and makeup business.
Nate graduated from Tshwane University of Technology in 2021. After graduating and completing her internship, she opened her private practice, which has been one of the best decisions she’s ever made. “I truly love being a medical practitioner,” she says.
She has been using her career to fund her passion for the make-up, hair, and beauty business.
“I loved the beauty world and I knew it was something I wanted to do. So, I registered the brand, we did brand testing and spent sleepless nights for two years making sure all the products are of good quality,” she says.
“ I tested and trialled multiple companies until I found the right one. Quality was non-negotiable, so I took my time to get it right,” Nate says.
It took her two years of research and finding a trusted manufacturer to work with, and she was highly involved in every process.
NateArtistry currently includes beauty blenders, mink strip lashes, powder puffs, and a full range of wig-installation tools and products, including lace glue, wax sticks, melting spray, tail combs, and combs.
“Finding good quality wigs at affordable prices has always been a challenge, and I wanted to bridge that gap. I paired that with my love for make-up, and it made sense to start the brand.”
She officially launches the brand today on November 26 and is grateful for the contribution the Big Brother played in her career. “Big Brother helped me with visibility. The platform opened my brand to a much wider audience and allowed people to connect with my personality, my creativity, and my story,” she says.
Beyond the spotlight, Nate is deeply committed to her work in prosthetics and orthotics, bringing both compassion and technical precision to her profession while effortlessly balancing her creative pursuits.
Bongi Sikelo 