Raising a child as a celebrity has to be a tough job. We can imagine how much the fans often butt into celebrities’ personal lives, forcing them to juggle their public persona and protecting their privacy in the interests of their children.
Even so, some ZAleb parents found the line, and did it so well that they managed to raise their kids mostly away from the spotlight. Which is why it often gets surprising when we realise that our favourite ZAleb kids grew up without us noticing it.
Here are some celebrity kids who we bet you didn’t realise are all grown up.
Khanukani Mbau
Khanyi Mbau keeps her family life pretty private, so she does not often expose her daughter to the celebrity lifestyle. Which is probably why many didn’t know she had a daughter, and those who did didn’t realise she was growing up until her recent birthday.
The actress recently went on social media to wish her daughter Khanukani, popularly known as Cannes, a happy 15th birthday. On the rare occasions that the two share photos together, they serve major mother-daughter goals as they bond over fashion and self care.
Snikiwe Mhlongo
It feels like it was just the other day when Generations: The Legacy actress Brenda Mhlongo had her daughter Snikiwe. We blinked, and now she is 23 years old.
The actress shared that she and her daughter are very close, and they talk about everything except boys. Snikiwe has been raised with that bag-chasing mindset from her childhood, and is establishing herself as a YouTuber and fashion influencer. She is no longer just Brenda’s daughter – she is a force of her own.
Alicia Angel Ferguson
Alicia, the daughter of Connie and the late Shona Ferguson, is probably one of Mzansi’s most beloved children. But did you realise she is 19 years old already? It looks like the power couple’s youngest child is ready to fly the coop!
She often steals hearts on social media, particularly when she shares family moments with her mom and siblings. One classic example is the time she taught Connie a dance, which she completely nailed. From her tribute, we know she misses her father Uncle Sho dearly, but she has a family she loves and is making her own way in the world, and we love to see it.
Thandolwethu Mokoena
Thando is Pearl Thusi’s daughter, and her mother has made sure to set her up on a path to success. She is already a model and has bagged multiple gigs with fashion lines, and has been on magazine covers too.
It might surprise you, though, that she is already 14 years old, as many were surprised at how big she’d gotten when Pearl shared pictures of them together on Halloween. At such a young age, she is already worth R200,000 as estimated by Savanna News. Are you feeling inspired yet? We know we are!
Bahumi Mhlongo
Remember Somizi Mhlongo’s daughter with Palesa Madisakwane? Well, she is all grown up now, as she just turned 26 in 2021.
Bahumi has entered the entertainment industry like her father, and is a talented actress, as we can see in this video that got Somizi gushing over her.
Although she keeps much of her life private, she has shared that she is living with a lifetime condition called lymphedema, in an attempt to make others like her visible. Clearly, she is taking up activism just like her dad.
The celebrities on this list have done an amazing job raising their children, some who are already making their mark in the world. We may never understand how they did it despite all the pressure, but kudos to them. We can’t wait to see the ZAleb kids blossom into tomorrow’s talents and leaders!