ILANO SKY Is Unapologetically That Girl: Blocking the Noise, Becoming A Better Version of Herself & A Beauty Boss
Ilano Sky Speaks on Her Big Brother Mzansi Season 6 Experience, Beauty, Dating as a Transgender Woman, and Her Future Plans
Witteen by Yaya Mavundla
It’s a gloomy Wednesday afternoon in Johannesburg when 23-year-old Ilano Sky, popularly known as Gadlaza, arrives for our interview at my place. The Durban-born star from KwaZulu-Natal walks up the driveway dressed casually in a grey sweater, track pants, and a bare face, singing out loud with excitement. From the moment she arrives, it’s clear she has been looking forward to this conversation. My attempt on getting her to drink tea do not succeed as all she wants is her protein shake, and luckily it’s available.
When the editor and publisher of Front Page Media, Sheila Afari asked me to interview Ilano, I was both surprised and excited. I knew this would not be an ordinary interview. Interviewing someone you share a friendship with can be challenging because you have to separate personal experiences from professional curiosity. I wondered how I would navigate topics that involved me personally without making the conversation uncomfortable. Surprisingly, the moment I pressed record, it felt like I was speaking to someone I had never met before.
The first thing I ask Ilano is how she is feeling. Without hesitation, she laughs nervously and admits, “I actually don’t know. Interviews are always nerve-racking because people expect you to answer questions their way instead of your own way.”
I reassure her that the only correct response is her truth. Almost immediately, she relaxes. When I ask her what it means to be on the cover of Front Page, Ilano describes it as another milestone in her growing career.
“This is my second big achievement,” she says. “The first was becoming the first transgender woman to participate in Big Brother Mzansi, and now being on this cover feels like affirmation that I am bold and fearless.” She explains that she hopes the cover will bring more exposure not only to her personal brand but also to her beauty business.
As the conversation shifts to her experience on Big Brother Mzansi, Ilano becomes reflective. “Being on Big Brother was such a different experience. The journey was hard,” she says. She recalls moments where some housemates misgendered her and quickly corrected themselves because of the show’s rules. “They had to do it for the sake of television, not because they genuinely respected me,” she explains. “That’s how society is in general, unfortunately what happens on Big Brother is the same thing that happens outside.”
According to Ilano, there were also moments where she felt some housemates treated her differently because they wanted to get a reaction out of her and that would somehow benefit their game strategy and unfortunately she didn’t give them what they were hoping to get.
The conversation inevitably turns to the controversial incident that sparked widespread outrage on social media, the transphobic comments made by fellow housemates Thandeka Tshabalala and Ramona Jane, where Ilano was described as someone whose been “a woman for two minutes.”
Ilano believes the situation could have been handled differently by production. “At that moment, I had to focus on the game,” she says. “There was two million rand at stake, and I didn’t want people to think I was victimising myself.” She explains that while she initially chose not to react hurt, which is how everyone expected her to inside the house, watching the clip again after leaving the show deeply affected her.
“When I watched the video outside the house, I was triggered and realised how bad it actually was.” When Ilano later reshared the video on X, reactions online were divided. Some accused her of “clout chasing,” while others defended her right to respond as a victim of transphobia.
I ask why she appeared to focus more on one housemate than the other as many social media users accused her of being selective. “The thing is, Ramona apologised to me both inside and outside the house,” she explains. “Thandeka never apologised directly to me. She apologised in the diary room for the viewers, but in my presence in the lounge she said she knew she was wrong and still wouldn’t apologise. That’s the difference.” Despite the challenges, Ilano believes her presence on the show left a lasting impact. “What matters most is that I left my mark in the house, represented my community and showcased my talents,” she says proudly.
Throughout her time on the show, Ilano became one of the most talked-about housemates online because of her beauty skills, cooking and acting. Every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, she transformed fellow contestants Neliswa Ngada, Liyema Pantsi, Trixie Christoffels, Dene Jones, Didi Mothobi & Ramona Jane with glamorous make-up looks and hairstyles while still making time to cook for the house.
Even on the day she was evicted, Ilano walked out of the house without make-up because she had spent her time preparing food for everyone before the live show. When I asked her why she constantly prioritised others, her answer is simple: “Firstly, I didn’t want to forget my skill. I also wanted to showcase my talent and fix other women’s crowns.” She goes on to say the exposure from the show inspired her dream of opening a salon that will accommodate multiple beauty service providers under one roof.
Although Ilano did not walk away with the R2 million grand prize & the “Queen of Bazozwa” title, she believes she gained something far more meaningful, public support. Her popularity on social media significantly boosted her make-up and hair business and later led to her becoming one of the ambassadors for Chillers Punch.
“There were moments where some housemates made me feel like I wouldn’t get opportunities outside the show because of my gender identity,” she says. “Getting this ambassadorship proved that being yourself is the best thing you can do.” She adds that she looks forward to celebrating the partnership with her supporters, friends, and family who stood by her throughout her journey.
Before ending the interview, Ilano addresses misconceptions surrounding transgender women and dating. “Men who date transgender women are not gay,” she says firmly. “The reason many men are scared to be public about their relationships is because society is judgmental not because those relationships don’t exist.”
She also takes a moment to respond to persistent rumours about her body. “For those who still think I have a BBL, I want to set the record straight, I’m all natural,” says with a straight face. “And if anyone still wants to argue, let’s argue at the gym, not on social media.”
About the Author
Yaya Mavundla is an Artist, Africa’s Most Decorated Transgender Voice and Business Woman.
