How popular socialites are the new 'boss-ladies' in town

L-R: Zari, Vera, Sepetu and Huddah

Top video vixen Vera Sidika aka Vee Beiby, 26, is more well known for her controversial Sh15 million skin lightening and expensive weave talk than she is known for her artistic professional career.
A single picture post of her bootylicious and curvaceous body keeps the social media world talking for days. Thousands follow her on her social media forums and when she posts a comment, they zero in on it, liking it, or dissing it.
And with such a wide following, she has learned the art of showbiz. She is no longer that beautiful girl another tycoon would pay Sh100,000 to get her company as a briefcase carrier for an overseas trip. Now, she is her own boss.
When a group of young video vixens, socialites, unknown bloggers and fashionistas came together to create the reality television series, Nairobi Diaries, recently, the sign was on the wall that this move by an otherwise admonished lot would change the showbiz landscape. Nairobi Diaries may have little to write home about. It does not matter. It served its purpose. The girls launched themselves.
As the show was closing its first season, Pendo, a popular socialite who became famous after she slept with Nigerian singer Davido (after claiming she was dating gospel boy Willy Paul) clashed with Vera awkwardly, opening a can of worms between the two that saw Vera exit to launch her own new TV reality show coming soon to a TV screen near you.
The fashion model, video vixen and socialite - who was born and raised in Mombasa where Pulse discovered her – has been known for her lavish lifestyle and don’t-care attitude towards the lot that does not seem to understand her. She has worked with most of the famed musicians across Africa and now, in her own right, she has become a game changer in the showbiz scene across the region.
And so, the announcement that she is starting her own TV show does not come as a surprise. Neither is the revelation that she is opening a gallery to showcase her artworks, for this is the transformation of a socialite.
“I have a business mind and a business plan. Every move I make is very calculated. It is for people to say what they want, but as for me, I am working towards my success,” Vera, the beauty who once told a TV anchor “My body is my business and it is a money-maker...” told Pulse.

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“I am off to Nigeria where all the thinking about the continental show is being done. I am working with professional producers and directors to make this a success. Soon, I will be unveiling a new Vera you have never imagined,” she teased.
Vera is not the only socialite changing gears to venture into a new life. Neither is she the only talk-of-town girl who is holding the entertainment industry by its control knob. The girls who were once branded high-class prostitutes by some seem to have created a new segment in the glamour world that other players cannot do without.
Once seen as celebrity groupie girls, the likes of Huddah Monroe, Uganda’s Zari, former Miss Tanzania Wema Sepetu and Corazon Kwamboka have transformed their images to business personalities; each now running their own lucrative showbiz stables.
Not so long ago, Huddah and Zari organised an East African concert branded The White Party that saw celebrities and hundreds of fans attend. According to sources, the least each could make out of the events is Sh2 million. Other events organised for them by promoters fetched them between Sh300,000 and Sh500,000 each.
Most celebrities and events promoters are now in a rush, sealing deals to work with the ‘socialites’ stables in ensuring that they keep their brands visible.
A popular politician has bought one of the Kenyan socialites a Range Rover in a business deal that will see him use her social network influence to assist in his campaigns come next year. She was also awarded a number of lucrative supply tenders in three counties after bidding.
“Truth be told; many people like viewing these girls as groupies and escort girls but the truth is, they are very calculated business women that the showbiz industry can no longer do without,” says Chipuleezy, Kenya’s fastest growing comedian who has been doing projects with Huddah and Wema.
“Beyond the face value, they respect the business end of entertainment industry and they have been sealing deals with artistes as event managers and stable owners,” he adds.
The 32-year-old Zari, whose real name is Zarinah Zaitun Hussein and who is born of a mixed race, may be popular for her latest move to date Tanzanian singer Diamond. However, unknown to many the so-called socialite runs her own businesses and owns a feet of state-of-the-art rides among them a BMW – 2006, Black Chrysler – 2008, Audi Q7 – 2010, Silver Crysler – 2008, JETTA-2006, Mercedes Benz convertible -2008. All the above mentioned vehicles have personalised number plates of ZARI 2-4-H GP. She also does her music and runs a number of charity projects in Uganda.
Raised in a simple family, her wealth is said to be accumulated from the many men she dated, which she refutes owing it to her hard work. A musician by merit, she has won a few accolades. With a cosmetology diploma from London, she has several businesses including a college in South Africa with her ex-husband, rental properties in Uganda, lavish homes, state-of-the-art vehicles and other business interests in entertainment and fashion. Currently in Europe with Diamond and their daughter Tiffah, the much needed break came after she was forced into taking a paternity test to prove the parentage of her daughter to the relief of Diamond. And if that wasn’t enough, always the business lady that she is, they made a killing from baby Tiffah’s brand endorsements and massive following on social media.
Zari has transformed herself from that socialite image into a business guru who has crossed boarders to Tanzania and Kenya where she recently hosted a number of shows.
The same way, Huddah (24), who is also a commercial model, recently upped her game by launching her own stable. She even sealed a deal with Vazzi online, an online exclusive fashion label whose designs she is meant to promote. The collection includes cropped tops, T-shirts, jerseys, hoodies, vests and related merchandise.
Wema Sepetu has not been left behind. The 27-year-old former beauty queen who represented Tanzania in Miss World 2006 recently launched her own business career after living under the shadow of her ex-boyfriend Diamond for years.
With more 1.4 million followers on social media, Wema used this popularity to launch her own lipstick brand Kiss, about three months ago.
“The Kiss brand is my lipstick label made for women who consider themselves classy, sexy, sassy and fun. It is meant for the urban trendy. If you are that girl, you need one right now. The idea was inspired by my interest to put in the market high quality cosmetics that are not necessarily too expensive. Everything is done abroad and I only get them shipped in here. For me, it was all about creating a new product that can be trusted by all and whose results reflect the feel of a modern day girl,” she told Pulse during a recent interview adding that she considered this her breakthrough project.