Who Is Omuhle Gela? The Actress Behind the Twenty Swimwear Brand

Who is Omuhle Gela? She is a South African actress and entrepreneur, trained at AFDA film school, who has played roles on Muvhango, Umlilo, The Imposter and Uzalo. Off screen, she founded the swimwear label Twenty in 2014, designed for women of all shapes and sizes, and in 2021 funded a nail-technician scholarship worth R28,500.

Quick facts

Omuhle Gela’s acting career

Omuhle trained at AFDA, and by 2017 she had already built a steady list of television credits. Sunday World listed her roles at the time as Busi on Muvhango (SABC2), Andile on Umlilo (e.tv), a part on Zabalaza (Mzansi Magic), Lerato on The Imposter (Mzansi Magic) and a role on Ring of Lies.

In 2019, Drum spoke to her about a new role on The Queen. She has also played Xola in Umbuso on Mzansi Magic.

Omuhle Gela on Uzalo

In 2022 she joined SABC1’s Uzalo as Nomaswazi. Speaking to Drum, she described the character as “like a chameleon… very unpredictable. She’s feisty and well educated.” It is a neat summary of the kind of layered woman she tends to play: sharp, self-possessed and hard to read.

Choosing acting over reality TV

In May 2024, Omuhle withdrew from season 11 of Tropika Island of Treasure. According to IOL, she stepped away to take “a longer acting contract in my professional field” in a new television series. It was a clear statement of priorities: the craft first.

Twenty: Omuhle Gela’s swimwear brand

Alongside her acting, Omuhle built a business of her own. She founded the swimwear label Twenty in 2014, designing pieces for women of all shapes and sizes, Sunday World reported. The brand grew in stages: Channel24 covered a range launch in 2015, and in 2018 Drum reported that she was preparing to launch her biggest swimwear range yet.

Size-inclusive swimwear is a demanding category, because fit and confidence are so closely tied. Building a label around every body type says a lot about how she thinks about women and self-image, a theme that runs through her other work too.

The R28,500 nail-technician scholarship

In 2021, Omuhle funded a scholarship worth R28,500 for a nail-technician course at Tammy Taylor Nail School, The Herald reported. That same year she hosted a “Mom’s Day Off” luncheon for 25 mothers.

The scholarship is a quietly powerful idea. Nail technology is a skill that can turn into a career or a business of its own, and offering training rather than a once-off gift creates something that lasts. As a beauty studio with our own nail team, we appreciate how much a qualification like that can open up. If you are curious about the craft, see what our team does at Gloss & Glam, our nail studio.

Omuhle Gela and The Penthouse

Omuhle was there at the start. After the launch night of The Penthouse at The Marc in Sandton, she posted on Instagram: “Last night celebrating the launch of ThePenthouse by @thesanhd hope y’all are ready for a treat! Full Glam @thesanhd”. The full story of that opening is in The Penthouse by The San HD story.

She has returned to the team for work, too. A shoot-day post on Instagram credits “Hair and make up : @thesanhd”, and another post on her Instagram, captioned “Soft serve.”, credits “Full Glam : @thepenthousebeautystudio”. You can see more of the looks our stylists create, for celebrities and clients alike, in our client portfolio.

How to recreate soft full glam inspired by Omuhle

The caption on one of her Penthouse posts, “Soft serve.”, makes a good brief: polished and luminous rather than heavy, the kind of glam that translates well to real life. If you want that finish for a launch, shoot or celebration, this is how our stylists approach it:

1. Prep the skin first. Hydrated skin takes makeup more smoothly and looks fresher in photographs. Arrive with a clean face if you can.
2. Build a skin-like base. Thin layers of foundation, concealer only where needed and a soft, warm blush keep the face looking like skin, not a mask.
3. Choose one focus. A defined lash line or a rich lip, rarely both at full strength. That balance is what makes glam look expensive.
4. Match the hair to the mood. A sleek middle part or soft, glossy waves suit luminous makeup. A freshly customised hairline matters more than length.
5. Finish with the hands. Neat, glossy nails in a tone that complements your outfit complete the look in close-up shots.
6. Set it for the long night. A setting spray and a small touch-up kit with powder and your lip colour will carry you from the first photo to the last.

What Omuhle Gela’s journey says about building a beauty-led brand

Three threads run through her story. She trained formally, then kept working across channels and genres. She built a business that reflects her values, in a category where inclusivity is a real differentiator. And she has invested in other women’s skills, not only her own image. For anyone building a career in beauty, fashion or entertainment, that mix of craft, ownership and generosity is worth studying.

Where can you follow Omuhle Gela?

Omuhle shares her work, shoots and events on Instagram as @omuhlegela. It is also where she has credited the teams behind her looks, including the posts mentioned above. If you are researching her for a campaign or appearance, her own channels and the outlets cited in this article are the most reliable places to start, rather than unsourced social media summaries.

Get the full-glam look

If Omuhle’s polished, camera-ready glam is the look you want for your next shoot, launch or celebration, our team can handle hair, makeup and nails in one visit. Explore our bundles and rewards, book on Fresha, or send our stylists a reference photo on WhatsApp.

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Frequently asked questions

Who did Omuhle Gela play on Uzalo?

Omuhle Gela joined Uzalo on SABC1 in 2022 as Nomaswazi. She told Drum the character is "like a chameleon… very unpredictable. She's feisty and well educated." Before Uzalo, she was known for roles including Busi on Muvhango, Andile on Umlilo and Lerato on The Imposter.

Where did Omuhle Gela study?

Omuhle Gela trained at AFDA, the South African film and performance school, according to a 2017 Sunday World profile. Her training underpins a television career spanning SABC, e.tv and Mzansi Magic productions, from soapies to drama series, and her later move to Uzalo in 2022.

What is Omuhle Gela's swimwear brand?

Omuhle founded the swimwear label Twenty in 2014, designed for women of all shapes and sizes. Channel24 covered a range launch in 2015, and Drum reported in 2018 that she was preparing her biggest swimwear range yet, showing how the label grew over several seasons.

Why did Omuhle Gela leave Tropika Island of Treasure?

In May 2024, Omuhle withdrew from season 11 of Tropika Island of Treasure to take what she called "a longer acting contract in my professional field" in a new television series, as IOL reported. The move put her acting career first.

Has Omuhle Gela worked with The Penthouse?

Yes. She celebrated the launch of The Penthouse by The San HD in full glam by The San HD, and has credited the team for shoot-day hair and makeup and for a full-glam look posted with the caption "Soft serve." on her Instagram.

Sources

• Sowetan / Sunday World — Experience gives Omuhle Gela no comfort in audition
• Drum — Omuhle Gela on joining Uzalo as Nomaswazi: she's very unpredictable
• Drum — Omuhle Gela tells us about her new role on The Queen
• IOL — Omuhle Gela quits Tropika Island of Treasure for screen return
• Channel24 — Omuhle Gela on launching a swimwear range
• Drum — Omuhle Gela to launch biggest swimwear range yet
• The Herald — Omuhle Gela giving away a beauty school scholarship worth R28,500
• Instagram — Omuhle Gela, launch night of ThePenthouse by @thesanhd
• Instagram — Omuhle Gela, shoot day (Hair and make up: @thesanhd)

Written by The Penthouse Beauty Studio team at The Marc, 129 Rivonia Rd, Sandown, Sandton. Prices are in rand, include VAT and were correct at the time of publishing.