Meet Lulama Matiringe | Model/Actress & Influencer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lulama Matiringe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lulama, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
As long as I can remember, I’ve been in a state of being uncomfortable. My skin. My hair. My upbringing. My expression as a human being. I noticed that I was often met with a degree of resistance somehow. Easy wasn’t an option for me or my lofty ideas. I had the grace of carrying a vision within me as I resolved these inner battles. I found myself caught between never-ending torment and a particular malaise. This continuous discord led me to an epiphany that proved to be more profound as time passed. “Be yourself.” Jarring in its simplicity. This mantra is one that I found myself redirected to, time and time again. Just be yourself. It freed me. It freed me in the same way that I hope to do so for those that have the pleasure of seeing my work. A moment’s glance into a lens reflects a vision that took me years to behold. Truly seeing yourself in art is quite a vulnerable moment to experience. Chasing that in your day-to-day life is even more daunting. If you were to ask me, I’d say it’s worth it every time. I express my art for the little girl in me who once felt like the black sheep. The ugly duckling. The rejected. I do it because it is the only space in my life where I feel the freest. The most beautiful. The most authentic. My art is meant be seen, felt, and heard since it is for the souls that once felt invisible.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I use various mediums of expression. Whether it is Suminagashi, sketches, poetry, or myself; my journey has evolved into a vision that is far more multi-faceted than I could have imagined. Doque Doque Arts is the branch of my brand that encompasses all things art. I have an array of paper marbling pieces that are done using a Japanese technique called Suminagashi. I began using this method in 2019 during the pandemic. It was a release that proved to be therapeutic and it nudged me to try expression through other mediums. I recently began to also include more of my pen drawings that are done in my artist notebook. I hope to go on to further branch out and display my pieces on larger canvases as my technique improves. Letters From Lulama is a blog that is composed of all of my writing from high school to now. The publishing of these works was initiated by a devastating heartbreak, a falling out of friendships, and an overhaul of my old self. The writings are scathing, vulnerable, and raw. I look forward to publishing from a much more light-hearted perspective which I am currently in. During the pandemic, I grew pensive about what my life was meant to be at that moment. On the surface, I was doing everything by the book. I was a full-time student with a job and a new apartment. Underneath the veil, I was coming undone in my empty apartment. I despised how lonely I truly felt. I ached for a creative outlet. In an instant, the disorienting fog of fear shrouded my dreams. The critiques and harsh voices echoed in unison. Who do you want to be? The tension had finally hit a deafening climax. I leaped into the unknown and am still not sure if I’ve landed. I walked into a talent agency that offered acting and modeling classes and the rest is history. I was met with failure after failure. Opportunities that I swore were tailor-made for me landed elsewhere. “You’re too short.” “Change this and you’ll be a lot more competitive.” “I see you as an actress, not a model.” Limitations that were outside of my understanding had been set upon me long before I had a resume. How was it that this “black sheep” was becoming her own muse? Embodying the art that resonates with my soul became far more paramount than my fears. The legacy I hope to leave behind is one that stresses the importance of self-belief. If you continue to discount the progress you’ve made in your life thus far, you do not stand a chance at seeing yourself through a clear lens. The power of your will is the only thing separating your dreams from reality. Choosing to become a safe space for yourself at the core allows for remarkable things to happen. I hope that people who see my work never forget that dreams really do come true.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came down, I’d recommend two places: Michi Tacos & my meditation spot. Michi Tacos has the best birria in town and I tend to be quite the foodie. My meditation spot is nestled between some trees and a mountain trail a few minutes from my house. I enjoy both spots for the light heartedness they bring. You cannot quite find food like this in the area since Menifee is such a small town. Menifee’s greatest gift is its greenery. The lay of the land is spectacular and to find views like the ones found here feels like you’ve found a diamond in the rough.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family is beyond influential in the makeup of my story, namely the women in my life. From my Mom to my Aunts and Sisters, my story is colored by the experiences I’ve shared with every one of them. If I could give a special shout-out to one person, it would be my Grandma. My Grandma, Margaret Gugulethu, is such a pillar in my life. Despite my time with her being short, she gifted me with such special moments that still bring bursts of bliss. I remember a moment with her that still loops in my mind as I write this. I was crying, asking my Mom to open a closed door. I wept and groveled, to no avail. I looked over my shoulder and saw my Grandma standing with forgiving arms. I ran into them and felt a warmth that I still yearn for even now. She didn’t say much. Neither did I. She just held me for a little bit of forever. She then held me until we both fell asleep. At that moment, I felt seen in a way that remains inexplicable. I feel her presence guide me with every breath I take. My Grandma gave me the gift of truly being seen as I am at that moment. I didn’t feel as though she pitied me. I didn’t feel a need to explain. I was understood without having to say a word. For her love, I am eternally grateful.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavishlulu/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011560203718&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@lavishlulu4life

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lulamaisqueen Blogger (LettersFromLulama): https://lettersfromlulama.blogspot.com/ Instagram (DoqueDoqueArts): https://www.instagram.com/lettersfromlulama/ Instagram (LettersFromLulama) https://www.instagram.com/lettersfromlulama/

Image Credits
Doque Doque Arts (Lulama Matiringe)
Letters From Lulama (Lulama Matiringe)