Khanyi Mbau, the renowned actress and reality TV star, has recently made headlines with her latest cosmetic procedure: blepharoplasty. This six-hour surgery, performed at Mono Clinic in Izmir, Turkey, focuses on reducing bagginess from the lower eyelids and removing excess skin from the upper eyelids. Known for her openness about cosmetic enhancements, Khanyi’s choice to undergo this procedure has sparked renewed discussions about the relationship between cosmetic surgery and self-love.
In an interview with TshisaLIVE, Khanyi Mbau addressed these discussions head-on, asserting that cosmetic surgery and self-love are distinct concepts. “We first need to understand surgery and self-love have no relation. People have tried to cushion their discomfort about what they feel is taboo by labeling their projections and saying surgery is a result of a lack of self-love,” she stated. “I am a naturally confident person, so any procedure has never been about self-love and self-confidence. I cannot also attach self-love to any needle or procedure. Self-love is not something you apply. Self-love is love. One needs to just be and let live, and then love flows.”
Khanyi Mbau’s perspective on beauty is rooted in self-expression rather than appearance alone. She views beauty as an evolving form of self-expression influenced by personal experiences and cultural exposure. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. One’s beauty is not physical but a deep sense of self. Beauty is unspoken truth through the physical. It is one’s choice to express in any way they want,” she explained. For Khanyi, cosmetic surgery is a means of expressing freedom rather than a pursuit of external validation.
Her approach to cosmetic procedures challenges the notion that they are indicative of self-esteem issues. “Cosmetic surgery is an expression of freedom of self-expression. I am not of this body; it only houses my soul. It’s my character that should define my values, not what I look like. Confidence is not being boxed by the norms,” she said.
Khanyi also addressed the concern that cosmetic surgery can become addictive, dismissing it with her characteristic wit. “It would be a very expensive addiction. I feel we all know what our desires are, and the drive to achieving them may come across as an addiction to someone who has no idea what I am about.”
Through her candidness and eloquent expression, Khanyi Mbau emphasizes that empowerment and self-acceptance are at the heart of her philosophy. She encourages individuals to live authentically and make choices that align with their personal values and desires, rather than external pressures.