Pearl Thusi has deleted her Instagram. She did it a week ago in a bid to wrest control of her time and clear out the noise in her mental space.
Things might have become a little too busy with the intense public commentary on her sartorial decisions, or rather a whole lot of weighing in over what a woman with two children should or shouldn’t be wearing.
This kind of ageist policing gets old quickly so she has given it all a break, she tells me over tea, a dairy-free green smoothie and a sober salad at Just Teddy in Hyde Park Corner.
“Sometimes I can’t help myself and I really want to know what people are saying, and sometimes it doesn’t affect me and sometimes it does and I get reactive. I might be thinking about that thing randomly later, worrying about the subconscious effect it might be having on me, so just because I’m not reacting doesn’t mean I’m not affected, even if I’m not aware that I’m affected.
“So I’ve just completely detoxed from Twitter [now X], and it’s been a week since I deleted Instagram. I’ve had to download the Meta business app because I’m going to have to use the thing at some point. But I’ve had more productivity in this last week than I’ve had in four months.
“I’ve been so intentional with the information I’ve been consuming and it’s made a world of difference. It’s like taking me back to my old self — driven, motivated, excited, undeterred by external issues in my life, just focused on finding solutions. I can’t believe how much I’ve done this week.”
I’ve been so intentional with the information I’ve been consuming and it’s made a world of difference
It’s not just a social media detox that Pearl is embracing. For a week every month she does a detox of the vegan variety. When I suggested we meet at Just Teddy because of the tea aspect of the detox, I had not really thought it through. The maximalist environment and the delicious patisseries on display are enough to tempt a saint. But I am happy to report that we stayed strong and nary a macaroon crossed our lips.
Inner strength is important to Pearl — an abiding faith in herself, which can be hard to maintain in an industry that can be fickle, hardcore and challenging to self-esteem.
She has been in it for more than half her life, starting in pageants and modelling as a teenager in KwaZulu-Natal, going to drama school at Wits when her professional career was already taking off — her pregnancy interrupted her studies — and then taking on and shining in an incredible roster of films, TV shows and series.
But it has not all been a walk in the park, despite her ostensible success and the ease and grace with which she wears her celebrity. “I’m OK now but it’s been really difficult navigating motherhood, navigating the industry, the economy, Covid, life and myself and the changes I’m going through as someone who is now in their mid 30s.
“I think one of the things for me has been processing and understanding how to deal with people using your age to almost abuse you — I can’t think of a better word — or to make you feel shit about yourself. But my age and my children are used against me on socials, where I am just living my life at this moment, with the life choices I’ve made...”
Her elder daughter recently turned 16 and it has been a time of reflection. “Just accepting that my little baby’s gone, everything has changed and it’s less about teaching her simple things, and now it’s really complex conversations that we have to have, difficult conversations.
“It’s very interesting because the toughest part of her life — we have had some very triggering situations in the past few months — is the same time when I lost my mom as a young girl, so I don’t have a backup or a reference point. Of course, I have my aunts but it’s not really the same.”
She says she would like another child, preferably a son, given that she already has two daughters. She laughs: “I was joking yesterday, my first experience having a daughter was not the most comfortable with the person I did it with. If I have a son, you would need to be the perfect specimen of a human.
“There is no real picture of what that looks like. I almost thought of putting it out there, like: hey guys, looking for a baby daddy, doesn’t have to be serious, like we don’t even have to do anything, like let’s just raise a child in a healthy environment together. Have an interview, discuss, maybe even draw up a contract.”
If you were considering a social media and dietary detox, Pearl’s levels of energy and productivity might convince you to follow suit. She is clearly super entrepreneurial and intensely busy with projects as she expands her horizons beyond acting.
She is a partner in a gin brand called Black Rose Gin. “Production is all in Cape Town and we are flying to Durban tomorrow to meet the sales team and distributors. Everyone understands I’m part of this, I’m not just a face in the game.”
She is planning a fashion label, she is shooting an independent film in the next few weeks, she is DJing and working in the studio on the final touches on several songs. I listen on her earpods and I am struck by her pure, lovely voice.
“I’m really excited, with all the challenges I’m facing. I’m really excited about the next six months of my life and what its going to look like.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.