Discovering your passion in unexpected fields – Otlotleng’s journey

When Otlotleng Moshupa left school, she aspired to become a doctor. However, she never imagined that she would end up in jewellery design – let alone win the South African category of the De Beers Shining Light Awards 2024/5.

Moshupa’s entry into jewellery design was an unexpected turn. After completing her matric, she missed the application deadlines for university. Her plans for a gap year were vetoed by her mother, who insisted she enrol in a TVET College. “I wanted to be a doctor, and there’s no way you can study medicine at a TVET College,” she recalls. “I was going through the courses, and didn’t even do much research. One of the last options was designing and manufacturing jewellery, so I signed up for that.”

What began as a last-resort choice quickly evolved into a passion, particularly for the hands-on aspects of jewellery making. “I didn’t like theory. I only liked going to the workshop and playing with my knowledge –being innovative and just designing,” she says. After completing her N6 at Rustenburg TVET College, she secured an internship at Iketleng Mo Afrika, where she has been honing her craft since March 2024.

Her journey is a testament to how unexpected paths can lead to remarkable destinations, and Moshupa admits that her win was just as surprising. “In fact, I found out quite late that I was a finalist, because they sent me an email, and I didn’t check my emails because I never had a hope of being a finalist let alone winning,” she reveals, reflecting on her triumph. “When I saw I the email, I wasn’t sure if I was first or a runner-up. But I am excited to have won, and it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Her winning piece for the Shining Light Awards was inspired by marine life. “I looked at different types of shells, and then I took sea urchins as my inspiration and created a bracelet, a ring and earrings,” she explains.

Preparation for the competition wasn’t without its challenges, however, particularly the emphasis on technical drawing. “It was compulsory to draw, and my passion is manufacturing. It was a process of about a month of drawing, and I kept having to start over. I design more by instinct, and they wanted perfection, but it helped me to win the competition,” she notes.

Already demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit, Moshupa launched her own venture, Radiant Reverie Jewellery, in June 2024. But her ambitions extend far beyond personal success: “I’m looking forward to becoming a leading brand in the jewellery industry. I can’t wait to have the qualifications so that I can maybe build an incubator or a school, and help out others with my knowledge,” she says.

She now has her sights set on furthering her education at a recognised further institution. Her mother, who encouraged her to pursue further education, couldn’t be prouder of her achievements. “She was so happy she shed tears of joy,” Moshupa says.

Looking to the future, Moshupa’s aspirations extend beyond building a successful business: “I want to be that person who will inspire my generation and generations to come. I want to share what I have been taught and the knowledge that I have gained,” she concludes.