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Mbali Bhengu: Turning Adversity into Business Opportunity with Oanna Aesthetics

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Serious health challenges caused by hormonal imbalances, which eventually led her to undergo a fibroid removal surgery in South Africa, became a catalyst for Mbali Bhengu to turn a new leaf in her entrepreneurial journey. In October 2024, she founded her latest company, Oanna Aesthetics.

Mbali, an award-winning South African entrepreneur with expertise in organizational management, brand building, and brand campaign development, chose to see the bigger picture of her health predicament. She decided to create a luxury lifestyle and health education brand that would offer solutions to women eager to balance good hair and attractive skin.

Says Mbali: “Oanna Aesthetics is a beauty brand created for all women and all pronouns. The inspiration came from my medical battle with hormonal imbalances and hormonal acne, so I decided to start a brand that would be lifestyle-oriented and, in the future, address these concerns in women.”

Oanna Aesthetics, which is committed to inspiring and educating the modern beauty-conscious consumer, specializes in providing premium luxury wigs, hair and toiletry accessories, as well as skincare products. The company also prioritizes educating consumers on health and beauty-related matters.

Their vision of redefining beauty is amplified by their business values and their mandate to provide unique products to the market. Guided by their mission to redefine beauty standards, Oanna offers its clients a rich experience with high-quality, fashion-conscious products that help them stand out in the crowd.

While Oanna Aesthetics is still a newcomer in the lifestyle and beauty industry, the brains behind the business is a proven entrepreneur with the experience, knowledge, capability, and drive to pursue a sustainable vision and leave a lasting legacy.

Mbali, born in the KwaZulu-Natal area of South Africa, attended Westville Girls’ High School before embarking on a tertiary journey. She successfully completed a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications, followed by a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

“I come from an entrepreneurial family, so I was always inspired to start my own businesses,” says Mbali, who is also the founder and managing director of a creative brand consultancy called Mind Switch.

Author of the best-selling book SELF – ISH: Mastering Self In A Selfish Business World, Mbali is also affiliated with Universities South Africa. She is a member of the Student Women Entrepreneurship Empowerment Programme, where she regularly offers advice and shares her wealth of experience with student entrepreneurs from various walks of life.

Since embarking on her entrepreneurial journey in 2016, Mbali has earned recognition, including being named a finalist in two award categories: the SAB Kickstart (2017) and the Standard Bank Small Business (2021). In 2018, she was awarded the KwaZulu-Natal Young Achiever Award for demonstrating exceptional business and entrepreneurial skills.

With this background of entrepreneurial experience and achievement, Mbali is well-positioned to lead Oanna Aesthetics on a growth trajectory that is likely to see the company become a leading player in its industry within the coming years.

However, Mbali understands that every business—especially one in its infancy—faces its fair share of challenges. Reflecting on how she has overcome both personal and professional obstacles, she believes she has what it takes to make Oanna Aesthetics a success.

“Clients often don’t know what they want, which makes it difficult for them to make a decision. The beauty industry is competitive, and we are doing our best to stand out through our packaging, design, service, and hair. It has been difficult, but we know that good things take time. We are willing and patient enough to stay the course and apply ourselves to achieve the long-term results we are aiming for.”

Looking ahead, Mbali feels both excited and optimistic due to the early and encouraging signs that indicate Oanna Aesthetics has already made a strong first impression with its clients.

“Securing clients shortly after we launched in October 2024 is very encouraging. We’ve made a great start by introducing ourselves to a vibrant and growing community, which gives us every reason to believe we are on the right path.”

Mbali Bhengu has rolled up her sleeves and is determined to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Oanna Aesthetics becomes a trendsetter and a leading brand in the lifestyle and beauty industry. It’s not a question of whether she will succeed—it’s simply a matter of when.

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