Healing out loud

 

By Mrs. M

 She’s a mother, a wife, a businesswoman, a fierce influencer, and a living testimony that healing is possible in every sense of the word. 

Mbali Smith-Dlamini, or as her followers fondly call her, 'Mrs Dlamini', has let us into her raw and riveting weight-loss and wellness journey with breathtaking honesty. 

She is a woman on a mission to build a legacy that uplifts, to redefine what beauty and success look like for a Swati woman, and to show the world that faith, patience, and radical self-love can move mountains.

In this deeply personal conversation, she further opens up about rediscovering her worth, setting boundaries, and what it truly means to become her own safe place.

 From balancing motherhood and the influencer spotlight, to teaching her children that dreams don’t have an expiration date, she is rewriting what power looks like for a modern Swati woman.

Mbali opens up about family, faith, filters, and the fierce fire that fuels her. Grab a notepad. This is a masterclass in choosing yourself without apology.

1.  You’ve taken us on your raw, beautiful weight-loss journey. What was the moment you decided ‘enough, I’m doing this for me’ ?

Honestly, there’s never one moment. It’s a culmination of moments. Moments where you realize you’ve lost yourself. Moments when you realize you miss yourself. But I think for me the biggest moment was realizing I had to do it for my kids. I had to show them it’s good to choose yourself. Love yourself no matter what, and it’s never too late!

2. Mother, wife, and influencer. Which hat feels the heaviest, and which fits you most naturally?

Hehe, heavy is the head that wears the crown. I think I’ve been blessed with a beautiful family and for me they come first. So I wouldn’t say it’s heavy, but it’s definitely a lot of responsibility making sure I’m stewarding the gifts that God has given me.

3. What did your recent experience at the L'Oréal Beauty University in South Africa teach you about the global beauty industry?

It was such a beautiful experience and I could say a lot about it, but what comes to mind is that Eswatini can come to the party. We have so much to offer and can definitely compete in the global space. It’s not too big for us.

4. You look absolutely unstoppable lately. What's been the biggest mindset shift since you started your wellness transformation?

I love that you mention wellness because that’s literally where it starts. I am whole spiritually, emotionally, physically and so I am in a space where I believe in myself and love myself more than I ever have. Once you know you’re worthy, it pushes you to work hard because you know what you contribute matters. And if nobody believes it, that’s okay. You believe it.

5. If you could bottle one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it say on the label? 

Seek God first. Everything else will be added unto you.

6. We see the highlight reels but what’s one challenge behind the scenes of being ‘Mrs Dlamini’ that would surprise your followers?

Balancing everything. When you work on social media it can be very easy to blur the lines between working hours and personal/family time. Sometimes I feel like I’m neglecting my family, or vice versa. So the balance definitely has been a challenge.

7. Tell us the one beauty product in your handbag you would wrestle a lion for

SUNSCREEN!!!! I use the Clicks kiddies brand to be specific, lol! The Swati Secrets Marula oil is a close second.

8. You’re raising a family while building a personal brand. What values do you hope to pass on to your children through your career?

That they can do ANYTHING they could dream of! That a traditional career is not for everybody and that’s okay. And it’s NEVER too late to chase your dreams.

9. Influencer culture is often accused of being fake. How do you keep it real, even when filters tempt us all?

I pride myself on being vulnerable. I think that’s my brand!! So, for example, when I use filters I will say “I’m catfishing you guys!” lol. I’m a work in progress, and even though I’ve learned to love myself, there are days when I don’t feel my best. Even then, I will always be vulnerable and share how I’m feeling.

10. What’s one lesson from motherhood that unexpectedly made you a stronger entrepreneur?

PATIENCE!!! I never used to be a patient person, and I think in life in general and in business you need to be able to exercise almost divine patience, especially when it feels like things are not going your way at all. It has also helped me be more intentional about having a plan and structure with kids. There's no time to be all over the place. I need to be on my A-game most of the time.

11. The South African beauty scene is fierce. Did anything about working there surprise you, or feel like home?

Honestly…it mostly felt like home. Like I belong. 

12. Who inspires you, both on your feed and off it, to keep pushing the boundaries of your success?

Locally it’s people like Zindzi Thwala, Mrs M, Ur Gal Zee, Tittee McBubbles, Pinky Glover, Nurse WeKhantri, KRTC Yoh, I’m realizing there’s a lot, and I’m beaming with pride just naming this many from our country alone!!! 

They showed me that it’s possible right here at home. Off the feed, it’s definitely my family. They’re my biggest support system and they’re always challenging me. I wanna become what they see in me.

13.  If you could invent a new beauty trend tomorrow, what would it be called and why?

I don’t know if this is a trend already, but ‘Showing up as the person you want to be’ why can’t you do that now?!

14. They say confidence is the best accessory. How has your definition of confidence evolved on this journey?

I couldn’t agree more!!! The best compliment people give me isn’t that I look good, but that I seem more confident and happy! So it’s a state of mind more than it is about actual appearance. And it trickles down to confidence in your opinions, confidence in your mind, your personality and abilities, not just looks.

15. Finally, what is the legacy you hope ‘callmemrsDlamini’ will leave in five, ten, even fifty years from now?

I want to be the woman who heals in front of the whole world. Fell in love with herself and brought many other women along the journey with her.  

I want to be the woman who brought people closer to God not by preaching but through her actions and testimony, and helped them realize healing is futile without Him at the centre.