“These Are Beautiful”: 18-Year-Old Silences Doubters With Stunning Luxury Candles Business, SA Wowed

• An 18-year-old businesswoman, owner of Tinsé Craft, stunned Mzansi with her gorgeous handmade candles
• Before showing her products she shared old texts of a friend laughing at her business idea, and followed up with pictures of her candles on TikTok, proving her doubters wrong
• Social media users hyped her up, with many saying she should sell in major stores like Woolworths and Mr Price Home
• Briefly News spoke with Njongo Hlakanipha Mpumlwana, the owner of Coolth Marketing Consulting Agency about starting a new business

Sometimes, the best way to silence the haters is with success. A young entrepreneur, the owner of Tinsé Craft, did exactly that when she turned her candle-making dreams into a thriving business.

The young hun, TikTok user @boipelo_'s video went viral after she shared it on the platform, attracting 1.3M views, 171K likes and nearly 2.1K comments from social media users who were impressed by her scented candle collection's beauty.

Read also

Actress Sonia Mbele shows off her brand new Ferrari, SA reacts: “I hope SARS is watching”

Young businesswoman proves doubters wrong

The TikTok post showed a heartbreaking text exchange between @boipelo__ and her friend. She excitedly told her about her candle business idea, only to be laughed at and discouraged. The friend bluntly asked who would buy her candles, making the young hun doubt herself.

Fast forward, and her gorgeous handmade candles are taking the spotlight. With elegant designs, some shaped like pears and others like luxury decor, her products look straight out of a boutique hotel. With prices starting at R30, people promised to support her.

Watch the TikTok video below:

Staying motivated as a new business owner

The Briefly News team had the pleasure of speaking with Njongo Hlakanipha Mpumlwana about the ups and downs of the business world. We asked him what the biggest challenge he faced at the beginning stages of his company was. He said:

Read also

"Small girl, big God": Young woman celebrates buying R329k car, inspires SA with her journey

"One of the biggest challenges was mustering the courage to leave the security of a regular salary and step into the unknown world of entrepreneurship. Breaking away from that 'comfort zone' was both terrifying and liberating.

The second major hurdle was establishing credibility in a highly competitive industry. As a new entrant, convincing clients to trust us and give us a chance required relentless effort, persistence, and a clear demonstration of the value we could bring."

The team asked him how he overcame self-doubt and negativity from others. Njongo shared:

"I overcame self-doubt by staying deeply connected to my vision and reminding myself why I started in the first place. I focused on small, incremental wins that built my confidence over time. As for negativity from others, I learned to differentiate between constructive criticism and unproductive noise.

I surrounded myself with supportive mentors and like-minded individuals who believed in my mission, and, I used scepticism as fuel to prove myself. Ultimately, trusting my instincts and staying committed to my goals helped me push through the doubts."

Read also

"The client was so happy": Young Cape Town woman deep-cleans home, SA praises efforts

We asked the man for advice for those starting their own business. He responded:

"My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple but powerful: keep going. Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with highs and lows, success rarely happens overnight. Trust your vision, even when others don’t see it yet. Ignore the naysayers—they don’t define your potential. Focus on putting in the work, staying adaptable, and learning from every experience.

Remember, the money and recognition will follow, but only if you stay consistent and resilient. Most importantly, believe in yourself, even when the path feels uncertain. If you’re passionate and persistent, you’ll find a way to make it work."

Mzansi hyped up the candle queen

The online streets were all about supporting the young businesswoman. People admired her craftsmanship and told her to ignore the negativity. Some users even said her prices were too love for the quality she was serving. Others asked if she ships nationwide, ready to secure their orders. The message was clear: real friend support, no doubt.

Read also

"This is a sign": Young lady moves out of home and shares furniture shopping journey, SA impressed

User @Baba_Ka_Yethu advised:

"Sisi pitch these candles to Woolworths, Pep Home, Mr Price Home before someone steals your idea. These, I believe, will easily make it to their shelves."

User @sitshociko added:

"These are so beautiful 😍."

User @Shereen Peza|Beauty Creator said:

"Those are not your friends 🥺."

User @njiwezwane said:

"Rule no 1: do not discuss your dreams, or business interests with your friends. Banomona (they are jealous). Congratulations sthandwa sam (my love) 🥰."

User @Fallen Hailey Vd Wes added:

"Girl your price is too low I work in a boutique that sells candles, and it's like R400 a medium one."

User @blondebaby538 said:

"I lost so many friends the time I was starting my small business and guess what ? God shows up , so keep going baby❤️."

3 Briefly News female entrepreneurs

• A businesswoman received many compliments from online users, after sharing a video pulling two massive trucks she bought for her events company and other projects.
• A young woman shared a video asking people to help her reach the management of Khayelitsha Mall, looking for a chance to pitch for an exhibition stand for her spices.
• A 19-year-old lady shared a video of her family helping her prepare food for her first big catering gig, and online users were impressed by how cautious she was of hygiene.

Source: Briefly News