Best known on social media for their trendy sense of style, identical twins Anelisa and Asanele Sobekwa are taking the net by storm 

Born in the Mother City, Anelisa and Asanele, also known as the Sobekwa Twins on social media, are all the rage and have brands lining up to work with them, but it’s been a journey to reach this point. The twins grew up having a relationship like that of many sets of twins: They spent every second playing together, dressed exactly the same, and enjoyed making it difficult for those who didn’t know them to tell them apart. Now in their 20s, they’ve replaced playing together with slaying together and are making their mark in the media industry. 

They exude natural beauty, inside and out, and have an exceptional work ethic that is reflected in every project that they take on. They proudly admit, though, that none of their achievements would have been possible without the unconditional support of their family. They were always encouraged to be themselves and to follow their dreams. ‘My parents taught me at a young age to not expect things when I want it and to be patient, so now I value all I have and every experience that comes my way,’ says Asanele. 

Although they’ve had their fair share of fun pranking those who couldn’t tell them apart, being identical twins also came with some challenges. One that they struggled with quite a bit was the constant comparison between the two of them. It was for this very reason that Anelisa and Asanele decided to dress the same and wear the same hairstyles, too. Their aim was to make it hard for people to compare and weigh up their looks and individual sense of style. 

From afar, and if you don’t know the twins on a personal level, they may come across as having one identity by way of their very similar traits and characteristics. But the sisters do have their differences. While both are kind, humble, ambitious and hard-working, their personalities differ. ‘I’m very introverted, reserved and diplomatic, especially when I’m not comfortable with who I’m around,’ says Anelisa, while Asanele describes herself as ‘very outspoken, sassy and a dreamer’. It’s essential for the twins to maintain their own identities. ‘It’s important to have your individuality because, without each other, we still have to be something,’ they asserted. Finding and developing their own individuality is something they strive to achieve. 

GO-GETTERS 

It was always Asanele’s dream to be in the spotlight. But little did the twins know that they would embark on this exciting journey together, and obtaining their degrees in events management was only just the beginning. They made their way into the media industry after a photo shoot with Cedric Nzaka, the guy behind the everyday people stories Instagram page, which drew lots of attention to their individual social media accounts. And when Anelisa got a taste of what the industry had to offer, she knew media was something she’d be able to use to reach her goals. And having worked with the likes of Sportscene, Burger King and Cosmopolitan, we can understand why. After first having their own social media accounts, in 2016, the two felt that they would have an even bigger impact as a duo, and their passion for the industry and creating content grew from there. 

Being in the limelight, however, doesn’t come without challenges and pressure, and the Sobekwa twins faced their fair share of both. ‘We often face challenges when working with other brands – it can be hard for them to be accommodative of us as black girls because of our features,’ says the twins. Another one of the main pressures in the industry is to remain relevant as it is sometimes expected from the twins to do what their online audience and supporters would like them to do. ‘With a fast-changing and ever-evolving industry, it can be difficult at times to stay true to yourself,’ they say. More than that, being freelancers comes with its own challenges, such as not necessarily being financially secure. But with a hard-working nature, anything is possible. As Anelisa puts it: ‘My belief is that something always comes from hard work.’ 

Being in this industry, or any other industry for that matter, might have its challenges, but these driven young ladies wouldn’t want it any other way or to change a thing. ‘It’s an industry that keeps you on your toes,’ says Asanele. ‘It is inspiring to be this young and have achieved so much.’ On that note, we asked if they ever felt as if they needed to work harder to prove themselves in the industry because of their age. ‘We were so fortunate to become something at such a young age. This industry is so accepting of our generation and we feel that the space is there to fill up. So there’s no need to prove ourselves because of our age,’ explains Asanele. While dealing with the external challenges that come with being in the industry, the Sobekwa twins have also had to face some from a personal perspective. Anelisa and Asanele have two different personalities, mindsets and ways of doing things.

This may, at times, result in disagreements when it comes to finding a balance. ‘The main thing is to be considerate and take into account the fact that there are two of us,’ they explain. Regardless of their differences, they are in agreement on one thing, and that is ‘to remind others of the importance of dreaming and to do what they want despite what people think or say, as long as you stay true to yourself and what you want’, says Asanele. It is evident that they won’t allow their differences to affect their personal and work relationships. 

What does the future hold for the Sobekwa twins? They agree that being in the social media industry is what works for them right now and that there are more goals that they would like to chase once this chapter closes. Although they are not sure where the road will lead them, they are, nonetheless, excited and see themselves as business moguls, each owning their own business, which is definitely something they look forward to. 

Words by Bianca muller
Photography: Samantha Pinto/Hmimages.co.za