K Naomi on balancing motherhood and a thriving career in South African entertainment

TV Personality and creative K Naomi made her on-screen debut in 2012, and has since come a long way in the South African entertainment industry.

In an interview with IOL, K Naomi opened up about blending her career in content creation, motherhood, and maintaining a sense of peace in an increasingly noisy world.

“This is not just a job; it’s a lifestyle.” For many, being out and about at events feels like work. For her? It’s simply life.

“I’m used to it,” she says with a shrug. “There’s no real feeling behind it anymore. This is where I dedicate my time, this is where I showcase my style and the brands I work with. It’s my lifestyle.

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A post shared by K Naomi Phakathi (@knaomin)

K Naomi got her start at “Top Entertainment” magazine show and appeared in shows such as “10 Over 10” and “All Access Mzansi”. Since her days on TV, she has become among the most followed creators in the country, and she’s worked with brands such as Don Julio and L’Oreal Paris South Africa.

Whether she’s curating an event, creating content, or simply showing up stylishly at an activation, K Naomi does it all with intention and a clear strategy. “Everything I do must benefit me in some way. Otherwise, why do it?”

As a mother of two, her responsibilities extend far beyond brand campaigns and Instagram aesthetics. But she’s made peace with the balancing act.

“It’s like having a baby. When you’ve never had a baby before, you just figure it out,” she explains with a laugh. “I try to monetize every decision I make. Even though I’m a strategist with a degree, a curator, I still make sure my choices are aligned with where I want to go.”

Two days before my mom passed she asked me to study.
Today my promise came to life and I graduated! 👩🏽‍🎓💛✨ #BlackGirlMagic pic.twitter.com/PhPjb0n13g

— K Naomi👑 (@KNaomi_N) May 23, 2017

It’s a refreshing take on navigating the ever-fluid world of content creation, especially in a space where financial security is anything but guaranteed.

In an era where everyone has an opinion about everything, from your friendships to your marriage, silence, she says, can be powerful.

“There are people that deserve my silence, and people that don’t,” she says matter-of-factly. “I’ve created a sacred space, my home, where I can vent, be real, say, ‘Actually, she made me mad.’ But when I step outside, I’m cordial.”

Her home is her haven, where she disconnects from the noise of the outside world and reconnects with herself. “Outside is noise,” she adds. “At home, I can breathe. That’s where I can figure out my life.”

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A post shared by K Naomi Phakathi (@knaomin)

Despite public perception and the constant chatter on social media, K Naomi doesn’t let the pressure sway her. “The noise? It’s like a song in the car. If you don’t like it, you press skip,” she says, smiling.

That clarity, that sense of separation between public and private, is what’s allowed her to thrive not just as a media personality, but as a woman in charge of her own narrative.

IOL Entertainment