Zizo Beda (born on December 12th, 1988; Age: 35 years old) is a famous model, radio, and TV personality who first rose to fame as the 2006 Miss South Africa Teen winner. The former beauty queen is divorced as her marriage to Mayihlome Tshwete allegedly crashed in 2017.
Though Zizo Beda started modeling as a kid, she eventually switched to TV presenting and became well-known for co-hosting the SABC1 magazine show, Selimathunzi. She also has years of experience in the corporate world, having been associated with the events and marketing company, Dandelion Breeze. The media star further made a name for herself as a long-time brand ambassador of the beauty brand, Garnier.
Zizo Beda’s Biography Summary
- Full name: Zizo Beda
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: December 12th, 1988
- Zizo Beda’s Age: 35 years old
- Ethnicity: Xhosa
- Nationality: South African
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christian
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Zizo Beda’s Ex-husband: Mayihlome Tshwete
- Zizo Beda’s Children: 1 son; Vukile Tshwete
- Siblings: Asanda Beda (sister)
- Zizo Beda’s Net worth: R27 million
- Famous for: Winning Miss South Africa Teen and hosting SABC1’s show, Selimathunzi
- Zizo Beda’s Instagram: @zizotshwete
- Facebook: @ZizoTshwete
How Old is Zizo Beda?
Zizo Beda is 35 years old. She was born in Dutywa in Eastern Cape on December 12th, 1998. She was also raised in the same town along with her siblings. Zizo has a brother and an elder sister. She is of the Xhosa tribe and her love for isiXhosa has made her emerge as one of the prominent Xhosa-speaking TV presenters.
Celebrating her 34th birthday in December 2022, Zizo Beda hosted an alter ego dinner party that saw her dressed as a musician, Moonchild Sanelly. The TV personality was hardly recognized in her sexy outfit which also confused most of her guests. She took to Instagram to appreciate the singer for taking care of her birthday costume and giving her one of the best birthday dinners ever.
Who Are Zizo Beda’s Family Members?
Zizo Beda was raised in a loving and supportive family. She often posts about her parents on social media. In one of her Facebook posts, she said she’s privileged to have her role model in the person of her mother. She further attributed her good qualities as a lady to her mother’s nurturing and guidance.
Also, in her sweet tribute to her mum in September 2017, the former beauty queen thanked her mum for loving her so much. Zizo also celebrates her father on Father’s Day and seems to share a strong bond with her parents. Additionally, she idolizes her parents’ long-term marriage as they have been married for over three decades and a half and are still best friends.
It’s noteworthy that Zizo Beda is not the only celebrated figure in her family as her elder sister, Asanda Beda is a popular radio personality. Asanda is an award-winning radio host, agricultural advocate, content producer, and brand accelerator. Interestingly, in 1999, Asanda aspired to become a beauty queen and thus, joined Miss Teen South Africa pageantry.
Though she didn’t win the competition, she emerged as one of the top 5 finalists. She holds a degree in Media and Business from the University of Witwatersrand. Since November 2009, Zizo Beda’s sister has been associated with SABC. She first joined the broadcasting company as a journalist and agri-preneur. She subsequently expanded her roles to begin working as a writer, and speaker.
For some years now, Asanda Beda has been serving as the host of Sound Awake with Asanda Beda on SA FM 10-104 or DStv channel 814 on Mondays to Fridays at 03:00-0500.
Zizo Beda Became a Beauty Queen in 2006
After completing her primary education at Komga Junior in East London, Zizo Beda enrolled at the Clarendon Girls High School. While there, she took part in several extramural activities including tennis, netball, debating, and drawing which tremendously improved her personality. After matriculating in 2006, she entered the Miss South Africa Teen pageant and emerged as the winner.
Although she planned on studying Journalism at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, Zizo Beda’s goals and aspirations instantly changed after winning the Miss SA Teen crown. Following her victory, her life was constantly in the media as she carried out some community works expected of her as a beauty queen. With her works being covered by YoTV, Beda was later offered TV presenting gigs.
She Cemented her Place in the Spotlight as the Selimanthunzi Host
In 2008, two years after winning Miss South Africa Teen, Zizo Beda was offered a TV presenting role at SABC1. She co-hosted a magazine show called, Selimathunzi alongside Lunga Shabalala. Having hosted the show for seven years, the 35 years old became widely recognized in Mzansi. Following her performance on Selimathunzi, she bagged the gig to co-host the 11th Annual Metro FM Music Awards along with DJ Tbo Touch.
Zizo Beda left Selimathunzi in October 2015 to pursue other interests in media. Even though she resigned from her role, she has maintained there’s no bad blood between her and the show producers. Subsequently, Zizo Beda joined Umhlobo Wenene FM in September 2014 as it has always been in her plan to venture into radio.
She worked as the co-presenter of the Umhlobo Wenene FM’s afternoon drive show, Masigoduke kuMhlobo with K-CI and Luks. After over four years at the isiXhosa radio station, it was speculated in March 2019 that Beda’s contract won’t be renewed. Hence, she would stop working as the co-host of Masigoduke from April 1st, 2019.
She was eventually fired from Umhlobo Wenene FM and rumors had it that SABC put in place stringent measures which saw people who are underperforming getting axed.
Zizo Beda is a Spokesmodel for the Likes of L’Oreal and Garnier
In 2011, Zizo Beda auditioned to be a representative of Granier, a beauty brand, and landed the role. Since then, she has been working as Garnier’s spokesmodel; a representative for one of the brand’s ranges. In the same year, she was also offered a brand endorsement deal by L’Oreal, joining the likes of Connie Ferguson who was L’Oreal’s longstanding ambassador before Zizo became part of the team.
Meanwhile, in 2009, the Xhosa native was made the face of Legit. Through her campaigns for the company, she got employed by Dandelion Breeze – an events and marketing agency. Dandelion Breeze runs marketing campaigns for Legit and comes up with strategic marketing campaigns for its clients.
Among these are creating awareness for products and services, making budgets, finding venues, and executing launches. Through her association with the marketing agency, Zizo Beda has been involved in several Legit launches which include Nandi Mngoma, Lalla Hirayama, and Punk & Ivy’s. She has further emceed at other launches overseen by Dandelion Breeze.
Hot"@City_Press: What do you think of this #SAMA20 outfit? pic.twitter.com/Lw6WDn2sjt via @OfficialSAMAs #ZizoBeda #hotORnot"
— Aya Qamarana (@AQAMARANA) April 28, 2014
She is a Sexual Abuse Survivor and Activist
In July 2020, Zizo Beda made a shocking revelation about her childhood experiences. She revealed that she was abused severally as a kid and it made her live in trauma. The media personality was crippled with fear and disbelief after being assaulted by a family friend at the age of ten.
As if that wasn’t enough, little Zizo was sexually assaulted again in her teen years during a hangout with some friends. She also had another ugly experience of assault the third time before turning 18 when she went for a medical consultation. It happened that the medical practitioner took advantage of her and touched her inappropriately.
For several years, Zizo Beda literally blocked out the trauma from her mind. But, she decided to give herself a chance to heal by speaking out about the traumatic experiences she had in her childhood. As a deeply broken adult, who desperately needed to heal, the TV host embarked on a self-love journey and has been celebrating herself for that. She also encourages women who are victims of assault to speak out and share their truth.
Zizo Beda was Previously Married to Mayilhome Tshwete
Zizo Beda’s ex-husband, Mayihlome Tswete is the son of respected South African politicians, Steve Tshwete and Pamela MaMzangwa. He was born on December 10th, 1982. His parents were anti-apartheid activists and his father, Steve was locked up along with former South African president, Nelson Mandela in Robben Island prison.
Mayi’s father became the first South African Sports Minister after the apartheid era. Before his death on April 26th, 2002, he was serving as the Minister of Safety and Security. He was honored with a state funeral on May 4th, 2002. On the other hand, Zizo Beda’s former mother-in-law, Pamela has been a member of the parliament since 2002 and serves as South African Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation.
Mayihlome Tshwete holds a degree in Business Administration. In the past years, he has worked as the Head of Communication for the Department of Home Affairs as well as the spokesperson for the department. He resigned from his role in the year 2018 and the Department of Home Affairs was impressed with his work.
#ZizoBeda and #MayihlomeTshwete welcome baby boy https://t.co/RHbSF0jOvB pic.twitter.com/bXmbbkyV8i
— HeraldLIVE (@HeraldNMB) March 16, 2016
Zizo and Mayihlome Began Dating in 2013 after Meeting at a Birthday Party
In January 2013, SowetanLive reported that Zizo Beda was dating Mayihlome Tshwete – spokesperson of then Public Enterprises Minister, Malusi Gigaba, but has kept her relationship under wraps. She eventually disclosed in an interview that she met Tshwete at the 40th birthday party of the minister, of which he was on the committee that organized it.
Beda, on the other hand, attended the party as a correspondent, covering it for her SABC1 magazine show, Selimathunzi. Mayihlome Tshwete offered to buy Zizo Beda a drink to which she agreed. However, she was skeptical about dating the ANC member as her plan was to focus on building her career. After the pair met again in Johannesburg, they got bitten by a love bug and entered a loving relationship.
Even though the famed TV personality played hard to get at first, Mayihlome never gave up on his love, as he continued calling her and going on occasional dates. Over time, their friendship blossomed into a romantic affair that lasted for three years before they embarked on a forever journey.
The Couple Got Married in 2015
Being a private person, Zizo Beda never disclosed her engagement to the former Department of Home Affairs spokesperson to the public. Hence, Mzansi was shocked to learn about her wedding in 2015 and her pregnancy as well. Zizo and her fiancé tied the knot in a civil wedding on December 11th, 2015 at St. Saviour’s Anglican Church in East London.
The fairytale wedding reception was held at the Gonubie Manor in the same East London. Then the following day, December 12th, 2015, Mayihlome Tshwete and Zizo Beda had a Xhosa traditional wedding hosted in King Williams’ Town, Eastern Cape. The lavish ceremony was graced by dignitaries in the country including Shaka Sisulu, Akhumzi Jezile, Lupi Ngcayisa, Malusi Gigaba, and Ndumiso Lindi.
Gallery: Top wedding with politics, business & arts bigwigs https://t.co/hb0reVY5vf #MayihlomeTshwete #ZizoBeda pic.twitter.com/ahm26JL4Es
— Daily Dispatch (@Dispatch_DD) December 12, 2015
They Allegedly Separated Two Years After Their Wedding
In May 2021, Sunday World reported that Zizo Beda’s marriage to Mayihlome Tshwete had ended and the two were headed for divorce at the time. It was revealed by the couple’s relative that their union actually hit the rocks in the year 2017. Zizo and Mayi’s relationship allegedly got strained after they failed to resolve their differences.
The relative said that duo tried to fix things between them for a while for the sake of their child. However, the former radio personality told her family that she was done with the marriage in 2021 and began seeking for a divorce. She was said to have lost interest in the marriage and the same goes for her husband.
Mayihlome allegedly moved out of their matrimonial home in Fourways, north of Johannesburg to one of their residential homes in Midrand for some time before their marital woes came to light. Though the couple loved each other, they had to accept that they can’t continue as husband and wife. And that was when they agreed that Tshwete should move to their property in Midrand while Zizo stays in Fourways.
The Midrand home is reportedly registered in Mayihlome Tshwete’s name whereas the Fourways house is registered in Zizo Beda’s name. The couple also agreed that they will each keep their cars. And they finally contacted their legal teams in 2021.
Mayihlome Confirmed His Divorce From Zizo
Soon after the news of their divorce made headlines, Mayihlome Tshwete attested that his marriage to Zizo Beda was actually over while defending his ex-wife on Twitter in late May 2021. The ANC member revealed his marital status after a video where Zizo was seen preaching to her followers about utilizing their full potential went viral and Twitter users claimed that she picked up the weird habit after marriage.
Mayihlome took to Twitter to explain that Zizo Beda has always had the gift of preaching but expressed it in a different way while they were married. For defending Zizo, many tweeps praised Mayihlome Tshwete for standing up for his wife. He then replied, saying that he’s not married, but Zizo is the mother of his son.
How Many Children Does Zizo Beda Have?
Zizo Beda has one child, a 8-year-old son christened Vukile Tshwete. In March 2016, three months after her wedding to Mayihlome Tshwete, Beda gave birth to her son. Before the couple got separated, they agreed that the former beauty queen should stay with their child at their family home in Fourways.
In recent years, Beda has been open about her motherhood journey. She said in 2019 that raising her son, Vukile is the hardest job of her life. And that no matter how organized you are, being a parent is never an easy journey. However, she admitted that she wouldn’t trade her motherhood experience for anything.
