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“She wanted to live, and live fully, and to give life, she who loved life! What was the good of existing, if you couldn’t give yourself?” Those are the words of French novelist, playwright and journalist Émile Zola from his novel La Joie de Vivre (1883).
And the sentiment is invoked by Courvoisier ambassador Melody Molale who shared in a recent interview that, this year, “I am just going to live my life. That is what I'm doing this year, living my life!”
On the surface, her curated, high-gloss social media platforms depict the life lived by an “It Girl”. But behind the face-beat and the Valentino frocks is a young woman who’s cultivated a life born from a love and passion for fashion, anchored by a deep sense of the importance of family, education and an appreciation for the simpler things in life.
This joie de vivre is echoed in her partnership with the most awarded cognac in the world, Maison Courvoisier, which now boasts a new look and packaging – an irresistible invitation to experience this spirit in a glass.
“The change is welcomed. I loved the old design, but the new look is even better,” says Molale.
“And I think we’re going to see more people and a new audience being attracted to Courvoisier, especially the younger crowd. It’s lighter, brighter and fresher, with the same award-winning liquid inside.”
While packing her bags for a long weekend trip to Dubai to celebrate her birthday on April 22 with her husband, she recounts her humbler beginnings – a life far from the glitz and glamour of her jet-setter life.
“I grew up in a mining town, Witbank. My dad was an engineer, a mining manager, and my mom was a teacher. She would prepare the most glorious school lunches for us, because that is what she loved to do, and we wouldn’t be allowed to see what she had packed until we got to school. It was the highlight of every day! All my childhood memories are joyous. We would go to church every Sunday, and get dressed up to the nines for it. My mother insisted.” Molale’s appreciation for fashion was sparked by her mother’s dedication to making sure she looked the part. “Her outfits were always on point. She didn't play,” Molale says with fondness. “I must actually try and find pictures of her looks and share them.”
She means to share them with her 196k Instagram followers! No mean feat for a church girl who grew up to become a woman who does everything: from media appearances; to dining and hosting friends at the newest restaurants and bars in town; to walking the red carpet or travelling to exotic destinations both locally and internationally.
Molale’s art is her work as a content creator, where she is essentially paid to live her best life and share it with her followers. “I love being able to touch people’s lives and I do it through brands that I partner with. That’s why it’s so important that the brands I choose to work with share the same values I do. It makes me happy to be able to connect with people from different backgrounds through my content.
“For example, I was able to gift one of my followers with an invitation to attend a fashion event I was hosting. It was one of my favourite Courvoisier events where I got to spend time with some of my favourite people, talk to them about sustainability in fashion, and make someone’s day – someone who I’d never met. She was so happy and it touched my heart.”
It’s these moments that hold value and meaning in Molale’s life. Much like the promise she and her siblings made to each other to always spend Christmas together.
Though traditions are special to her, Molale and her husband didn’t have a customary ceremony or even a white wedding when they got married 11 years ago. Instead, they spent that money on travelling. “My mom really wanted us to have a proper wedding and is still on my case about it. And sometimes when I look at my friends’ wedding pictures I think, oh snap! I didn't have that. But then when I look back at my travel photos, I'm like, well that’s the reason. And I wouldn’t change that for the world!”
Molale credits her family for instilling in her the importance of having a good work ethic, treating people as equals and standing up for yourself.
“When I look back at my life, I think about how I was not taking advantage of every opportunity, and not appreciating that we don’t actually have that much time. Losing a friend made me realise that. If you are not living your life to the fullest, if you are not taking every opportunity that comes your way, you may never get the chance. In the words of Kourtney Kardashian, live life!”
For more information visit Courvoisier on Facebook and Instagram. #CourvoisierSA
This post was sponsored by Courvoisier and produced by Adspace Studio.
