# 8

 

Row-Lean

 

I have to start this story by bragging personally that blondes do have more fun, but Row-Lean is making a perfect example of why it is true and why it still remains a strong statement. Growing up in a small town of Polokwane, Row-Lean felt that this small community is not enough for her to keep herself busy and out of trouble. Describing herself as someone who likes to be busy and moving forward, a lifestyle that sounds quite similar to a small animation fish who also likes to “just keep swimming.”

 

Keeping pace with her continuous changing lifestyle, Row-Lean always had a small pleasure in just watching and observing people. Watching at what they are doing, what they are saying and just gazing into different crowds, she always finds it intriguing to observe them and use it to her own benefit in the content she is providing. This small pleasure adds great definition to her own personal life quote: “growing through collaboration.”

 

Being part of the millennial generation, Row-Lean started to venture into the ever-changing platform of social media to allow the community to get to know her and her being able to contribute to her community. This being done via the popular art of vlogging, which is done by making short clipped videos of day-to-day activities. Her YouTube channel, Row-Lean’s Rendezvous, grew in such a way that it expanded to interviewing local South African celebrities and a small series called Matie where she sits down with Aunt Matie, ranting and analysing the current stand of trends and politics in South Africa in a very comedic fashion.

Not only did this channel allow Row-Lean to meet many famous celebrities, but this greatly assisted her career in the acting industry. She played minor roles in various Afrikaans films, acted in a long list of theatre productions during and after school, participated in modeling, singing and various other talent associations and organizations, making her mark nationally and also internationally. It is sure to say once Row-Lean creates a goal and sets her eyes on the prize, she is fully determined to get it without sacrificing her values that make her unique.

 

But along the way there will be rough patches for any aspiring actor, singer or dancer that will face negative publicity, going out of their way to knock you down. The question will be on how to reflect on those people who make it their goal to diminish your dream and in the same wave your self-confidence as well. Such an exact incident occurred in Row-Lean’s life while reading through her fan comments on her YouTube channel. Bursting with excitement every time Row-Lean receives a notification of someone engaging in a conversation about her comment, she thought that this specific notification would be a pleasant one like all the others. Unfortunately, this viewer turned out to be someone who did not share the same comedic sense as Row-Lean and tribute very negative comments about her content.

 

Now let me make it clear that no matter how long and in what industry you have been involved with, negativity will always be somewhere trying to take a bite out of you. You just have to make sure that you have a Band-Aid ready to patch up the damage and move forward, not waiting on the healing process. It will be a bit untrue to say that Row-Lean wasn’t affected with this nasty comment, but luckily her band aid arrived just in time in the form of an invite of welcoming and interviewing SMOKEY during their South African tour. Still being a bit distraught from that hard knock, Row-Lean still had the self-esteem and courage to ignore the negativity that came her way and moved on.

 

Including this experience with many others, Row-Lean realized that you yourself are a brand. And by saying this, she added that a brand needs to be consistent and learn to adapt and mature while facing communal commentary and situations that will either have a positive or negative impact on your brand. She also stressed on the fact that greatness can’t be achieved alone. It is imperative to create a support system not only for your career but for your personal and emotional wellbeing as well.

 

Growing through collaboration and oh boy is this lady growing. I asked about what the public, the South African community, and her fan base can expect from her during 2017 and excitingly she answered for the next upcoming years till 2020. Teasing with a charity project which she hopes to start off soon, Row-Lean will also test the waters of working behind the scenes and behind the cameras, branching out Row-Lean Unlimited, and focusing more on her music and acting career of course, and lastly determined to treat someone special on 14 February 2020.

 

 Sporting the creativity of going only by a single name in the entertainment industry like Cher or Adele, you can already expect that this spectacular individual will be everything that defines crazy, spontaneity, uniqueness and her wonderful eccentric ways.

 

Impressions can definitely be deceiving when hearing of Row-Lean, as I was one of those few that was deceived. Digging a little into Row-Lean’s history, I noticed that for a lady still in her early twenties she has already experienced and achieved so much in a very short period. Row-Lean embodies sheer determination and bravery when pursuing an objective with or without obstacles pulling her down and willpower is definitely within yourself as well, waiting to break free and allowing you to keep on swimming as well. Grow through collaboration just as Row-Lean, and more importantly, grow by faith and hope that you can too reach out to your goals just as her.

 

Cheers for this week,

 

WA