Ayanda Majola
Science, Tech, Energy, and Innovation
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Age:
24
Project Name/Description:
Founder – Yanda Cosmetics
For Ayanda Majola, the personal is entrepreneurial. Majola’s traumatic experiences with being bullied for acne, coupled by her inability to afford skin care, propelled her to develop affordable and effective products to respond to skin challenges. Her inspirational story unfolds at the intersection of science and beauty. Majola is the visionary behind Yanda Cosmetics, a skincare brand aimed at bridging the gap between scientific innovation and consumer accessibility for chronic skin conditions. In a short space of time, her brand has made a mark in the beauty industry, being incubated by the prestigious Innovation Hub and forming partnerships with leading retailers like Makro. Prior to becoming a 2024 Sunday World Unsung Hero, Majola was listed among Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans and received the Gauteng Women of Wonder Award, the Junior Chamber International Bizhub Award, as well as the Nedbank YouthX Award. South Africa’s democracy, argues Majola, has made significant strides in its three decades of existence. However, she believes there’s still room for improvement especially when it comes to youth development. “There’s a rise of innovative businesses and initiatives but many struggle to access the necessary funding and support to thrive. It’s crucial to invest in young people because they possess fresh perspectives that can drive progress and economic growth,” says the Vaal University of Technology’s Bachelor of Health Science: Medical Laboratory Science student.
