If you think Unathi’s larger-than-life energy is a mere public persona that she dons to work, wait until you meet her away from the limelight. Her presence, similar to radio and TV, literally means…*cue* dramatic laughter, animated illustrations and an infectious aura that lingers long after she’s left. Therefore, it would seem like somewhat of an anomaly that she, too, experiences serious downers.
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She takes this moment to correct some of the misconceptions that have plagued her most of her adult life. “People think I’m stronger and more resilient than I actually am, or that I don’t get hurt by how they treat me. They assume that I’m only sensitive on Idols and that I, weirdly enough, switch that sensitivity off when it comes to the rest of my life,” she says. The truth, and something she says all the time, is that she’s done being strong because she actually has no clue what it means. “I love being vulnerable, and that’s why I’m in therapy. As black women, the expectation is often that we must prioritise others before ourselves, and I’ve had to decode a lot of those beliefs. I love and crave being taken care of. I want to feel protected and covered.”
