Up-and-coming fashion guru Celestine Kampire reveals her journey in a tell-all Q&A

From styling to photography and her foodie-inspired YouTube channel, content creator Celestine Kampire is a multi-talented creative. The Rwandan native who now lives in the Mother City has been making her mark in the fashion industry with her ‘cool girl’ looks. Fondly known as ‘ur fashion friend’, here’s Celestine’s story.

What drew you to styling and the fashion industry?

I have always been drawn to fashion. When I was around 11 years old, I had a book where I would sketch all the designs
I wanted to make when I got older. With that in mind, I studied fashion design after high school. I’ve always been very visually inclined too, so watching movies with amazing costumes also drew me in, as well as being able to style myself. 

Are your skills self-taught or did you do any special training?

I studied Fashion Design at Cape Peninsula University of Technology and worked in the fashion industry until 2020. While working in the fashion industry, I was doing social media on the side and got a camera in 2017. From there, I got into photography and in 2020 I went fully into it with my younger brother as a content creator.

Do you think your upbringing impacted your current career path?

No, styling and fashion have always been passions of mine. But from an African perspective, going into a more stable field would have been more desirable to my family and community. As a result, two of my older brothers went into engineering and I went into design instead.

What made you want to become a content creator? 

I love the idea of side hustles, so when I was working my 9-to-5, I really wanted to have something extra that I could do for myself as a backup plan and passive income. Content creating seemed like a good option, especially since I love fashion and it wasn’t far off from my career.

How has becoming a fashion influencer impacted your life thus far?

I find it so rewarding to share my passions with my audience. So if there is a cute shoe that I’m obsessed with or a new spot I like, I love sharing my find in case they’re looking for something similar. I appreciate it when people plug me into new and exciting items, so I want to share the love!

What are your greatest achievements thus far?

Some of my highlights include taking trips with brands I love working with. I never thought I would get to the stage where I would be treated like a legitimate fashion influencer, so it’s been exciting! On my Facebook page,  I reached 1 million followers, a number I never thought I would reach on any platform. So that has been quite a highlight too.

What are some of the most exciting projects you’ve worked on?

Some of the sustainable campaigns I have worked on have been very exciting as it’s amazing to see what the future of fashion could be if more garments were made from recycled material. Also, collaborations with hotels and other guesthouses have been fun, as I get to create more lifestyle content, which is different, and this definitely keeps me on my toes. 

What are your aspirations for your brand in the years to come?

I’m working towards growing my platforms into spaces where women can come for inspiration to try new looks, hairstyles and finds while evolving together. I would like to move forward by incorporating more authentic video content too. 

What would you say are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your line of work?

The most rewarding aspect of the job is doing what you love and getting paid for it. It doesn’t get better than that! The most challenging aspect is that you’re not in control of the platform that you’re on. So, if Instagram changes its algorithm and even fewer people see your work, you just have to work around it. 

If you weren’t working in your current field, what would you be doing instead?

I love architecture. So I think I would want to go into that field and be an architect. Also, marketing would be a very good option for me. 

Your YouTube channel predominantly has food-related review content.  Is this another passion of yours? AND What are your goals for this platform?

Yes, I love food! It’s definitely another passion of mine, especially when I find good eats. ZAR Reviews on YouTube was created with my brother, Fabrice. We would love to grow from food to travel content as well, and really get to show the best of South Africa, for tourists and locals too.

Describe your process when it comes to styling for/working on a creative project 

When I start to work on a new collaboration or campaign it’s always intimidating. I always make sure I shoot or film the content in a new and exciting way for my audience and for the brand, so it takes a lot of planning and research. Once I have my concept though, it’s easy to shoot and execute the project. 

Are there any exciting projects in the pipeline? 

I am quite excited about the potential of my YouTube and TikTok platforms. In the coming months, I want to push the envelope and see where I can go with both of those platforms, while connecting more with my audience. 

What would you tell anyone trying to break into your industry? 

Be patient. Some content creators blow up quickly, but for the majority, it takes years to grow. Be prepared for this lag. 

What do you think about the current state of South Africa’s fashion industry?

It is exciting to see where our industry is going. Fashion retailers are much more caught up on trends, so it’s not that necessary to shop for items abroad anymore, which is great for the economy. Also, local fashion designers such as Rich Mnisi and Thebe Magugu are putting us on the map and making the rest of the world look at the South African industry with a new lens. 

Words by Aaqeelah Floris
Photography: Courtesy Images