She has swopped her designer handbags for a baby carry-all and glamorous parties have been ditched in favour of nights at home. Yet former Miss South Africa Thuli Sithole couldn’t be happier: there’s a new man in her life and she can’t get enough of him.
The guy in question is Chawe Thandolwethu, her four-month-old son. “He has his dad’s looks but his mom’s spirit,” 26-year-old Thuli says, cradling him.
Chawe, or Thando as everyone calls him, is a real little prince - literally. His dad is His Royal Highness Prince Cedza Dlamini (34), nephew of Swaziland’s King Mswati III.
“When he was three months old we had his anointing ceremony in Swaziland,” Thuli tells us. The ceremony was an official naming ritual and Prince Chawe (which means warrior) Thandolwethu Dlamini was introduced to everyone in the family.
We’re the first media to meet Thando, who was in seclusion according to tradition for the first three months of his life. “I’m glad we had those three months to ourselves because I’m much thinner now,” Thuli says, laughing.
Thuli is looking for a nanny so she can get back to work. Her passion has always been business and she’s going into lifestyle management now.
She has registered her business, which will manage aspects of clients’ lives they don’t have time for. For instance, she explains, if they want to throw a party she’ll make all the arrangements on their behalf.
“It’s like being a PA, although I will hire people to help me. It’s aimed at busy successful people, to help make their lives easier and more manageable.”
But she’s adamant her first role will be as mother to Thando. “I want to work from home so I don’t miss a single moment of my baby’s milestones.”
Thuli is starting to realise motherhood is the toughest - and most rewarding - job she’ll ever do.
“It comes with no salary but the greatest joy, contentment and love. It’s like being the CEO of another human being with great perks,” she says.
Thuli admits she has always been hard on herself, pushing herself and not being entirely happy with even the best achievements. “But this is the first time I’ve given myself a pat on the back for a job well done!”