26 Jun 2017

A young Motswana lady has made it big in South Africa as fashion dealer.

“I am from humble beginnings and I’m where I am because of my difficult background.”

These are encouraging words from Ms Tshepang Candy Rawson a young business woman owning an online page called BEST Friends Fashion which sells trending sneakers in South Africa.

Born and raised in Lecheng in the Tswapong area, unlike her peers Rawson was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

She had arduous life, with her family struggling to meet her basic needs.

To Tshepang things got even worse when her father passed away before she went to high school.

Although it was really bad, she had to weep off the tears and fight the struggles of life that emerged when her dad left.

With the death of his father, books became her friend and school was the only place she found solace.

Her love for knowledge saw her take part in debate competitions which will later unearth an outspoken public figure.

“I began to be eager to learn and this saw me take part in debate, public speaking and drama competitions at school. In all those I was privileged to get honored with trophies and certificates something that motivated me even more. This is also where I discovered the part in me which I never thought I had, which is a good public speaking,” said Rawson.

Ms Rawson said taking part in these activities also disciplined her and instilled in her a winning spirit.

In instances where she was fortunate enough to win money; she will save it and use it as taxi fares to go to school because her mother could not afford to give her taxi fares.

“My mother used to sell snuff to pay for the stuff I needed as a student and as a girl child, but still that was not enough to meet my needs in order to overcome the struggles of life ahead of me,” Ms Rawson said.

When asked what prompted the migration to South Africa, Rawson said it all started with the interest in the life of media and films.

Since they could not afford a television at home, Rawson said she recalls that she used to walk to watch TV at one of her friend’s place. That was when the love for TV developed.

“I knew then I wanted to be in the media industry which saw me choose to study radio and Television Broadcasting at Limkokwing University,” said Rawson.

After graduating she migrated to South Africa to do her internship with an Online Magazine as their fashion blogger later a co-editor. 

Rawson did not stop there, she explored different avenues in South Africa which saw her climbing the ranks, working as a content production personnel in one of the prestigious recording label company in Johannesburg, managing their social media platforms and content production.

On her spare time Rawson said she did radio presenting on an online radio platform hosting a show that was aimed at inspiring and motivating the younger generation.

Currently Ms Rawson is an online seller and an image consultant based in South Africa and Botswana.

Her company BEST Friends Fashion sells trending sneakers and it is aimed at targeting the youths and the fashion that speaks to them.

Revealing more about her company Rawson said recently it signed a legendary local hip hop artist Apolo D to be the face of the business.

“I currently have about three agents across the country who help with distribution and sales” said the young spirited entrepreneur.

Recently Rawson also launched a clothing label called Queens Ambassador which is a brand aimed at empowering women to work hard and grow a sense of financial independence.

Narrating why she started such a clothing label specifically for women, Rawson said in her years as a struggling young woman she realized that women are prone to doing desperate things to earn money which leads to exploitation and all sorts of abuse from those that they fully depend on.

Tshepang Candy Rawson is married in South Africa and she is one of the few Batswana doing well in the media and business arena in South Africa. ENDS