Reality TV star Vuyokazi Nciweni has opened up honestly about her weight-loss journey and the personal reasons behind it. The 27-year-old star revealed that she had never truly felt comfortable being overweight, but for a long time, she allowed herself to stay that way because of love.
Vuyokazi, who appeared on Uthando Nes’thembu and Izingane Zesthembu, shared her story on her YouTube channel. She explained that her weight gain was influenced by her former boyfriend, whose name she did not mention, because he preferred curvier women.
The reality TV star revealed that she went for gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey in 2025, a decision that helped her lose weight and reclaim control over her body and her life.
“I decided to lose weight because I hated being fat. To be honest, I didn’t like it. I hated my body. I only gained weight because I wanted to be loved. After all, the person I was with at the time preferred ’big mamas,” she shared.
“I chose to do that to myself and gained weight because I wanted him to love me, because I wanted to be his type. Otherwise, being a big mama is not my cup of tea. I really don’t like being fat; I hated it my whole life,” Vuyokazi said.
She explained that her struggle with weight started at a very young age. “I was fighting with my weight from primary school, and by high school, I was the fattest I had ever been. Then, around 2017 and 2018, I started losing weight again. I worked out, and my body was beautiful.”
Vuyokazi added that after giving birth to her first daughter, her weight changed again.
“But between 2019 and 2020, after I gave birth to my first daughter, my weight started creeping back up. After that, I lost weight again because I was breastfeeding and postpartum changes happen, and physically your body shifts,” she said.
She admitted that she later gained all the weight back on purpose. “I did it by choice because I felt like that’s what was expected, and I wanted to feel loved.”
The turning point came when she left that relationship. “Now, I lost weight because I’m finally out of that situation, and I can be myself again. This is who I really want to be, and I’m really glad I got here. This is the body I’ve always wanted.”
“Now, I did this for myself. I wanted to love myself, to be the person I always wanted to be. And now, I’m that girl. That’s why I lost the weight,” Vuyokazi said.