LOCAL influencer Gloria Ngcobo says her brand is all about sharing her love and kindness – and herself – with people. Loved and known for her happy dances and fitness journey, Ngcobo has been TikTok’s and Instagram’s darling for the past few months, bringing awareness to the community of people who thrive on authenticity.

Gracing the Highway Mail offices with her bubbly self, we sat down with Ngcobo who relayed to us her journey to becoming a social media influencer and many more things. Known to many as @fitglor on Instagram and Gloria Ngcobo on TikTok, the Hillcrest resident said that reaching the success of her brand has been beyond her wildest imagination.

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The fitness fanatic grew up in the Upper Highway area and attended school there. “My mom worked as a domestic worker, and the family she worked for took me to school through primary and high school. Upon finishing matric, I did not have the funds to go to a higher institution, so I worked right after Grade 12 in a call centre. I grew in that career and was able to support my family,” she explained.

Ngcobo said she felt stagnant and needed change in her life. “I felt like there was more for me, and I wanted to work for and towards myself and my dreams. Through life coaching, I was finally inspired to leave my day job; I had nothing but my savings to fall back on.

Ngcobo said that at this point in her life, she has come to realise that the only way she can offer herself to others is by pouring love into herself. “I understood that I had to do some work on myself – so I took the initiative to work through my traumas and beliefs that held me back from being my true self. I have always been a bubbly person, but it was to cover up the things I was unhappy about.

“Now I feel more liberated, and I am always happy to cheer people and make them smile by just being my authentic self because I believe that’s where success comes from,” she said.

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Rising to fame on social media, Ngcobo said it was never planned. “I had always been on social media but not with a large following. One of my first TikTok videos to trend was when I documented my first Comrades Marathon race.”

The video that brought about her breakthrough into the social media world was her dancing video which has remained her brand ever since.

“My partner recorded a video of me dancing and dared me to post it. I was reluctant because this is what I do when I am alone with my partner in the room, and it was not my intention to put it out there. When I finally did, the video gained traction and is currently sitting on 2.2 million views,” she said.

Ngcobo said that from then on, she gained a number of followers on Instagram and TikTok and made amazing friends.

“One of my first collaborations was with a banking company where I had to choreograph a dance, which was a challenge for everyone to join in on. I have been approached by many other brands, and I am happy to work with any brand that aligns with who I am and what I stand for – which is authenticity,” she said.

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Explaining the downside to social media, Ngcobo said that knowing herself and what she stands for has helped her withstand the negative comments. “Knowing that I have put my authentic self out there, and that I am not doing this for attention or any other ulterior motives, is what keeps me going and posting for the people who enjoy and are inspired by my content.

“This experience has shown me how, when you open up yourself to the world, the world will reward you,” she said.

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