Tyla may be topping the charts and bagging all the major awards, including winning the Best African Performance category award at the just concluded 68th Grammy ceremony, but her sister, Sydney Seethal, is also solid in her own right, carving a niche in the digital and creative space.
Seethal, who describes herself as a creator, entrepreneur and lifestyle influencer passionate about inspiring young people, has come a long way, from having little confidence to now believing in the limitless potential within everyone, she told Sowetan.
“I love exploring different creative spaces, whether in front of the camera, through acting, or via my personal content.”
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Seethal’s digital career began during the pandemic when she created a TikTok page. She started becoming popular through her lip-syncing videos, and soon, international brands came calling.
“I started with TikTok in 2019 and suddenly I had brands from the U.S. and South Africa reaching out,” she said. “I didn’t expect it, but I saw it as a way to raise capital for my business goals.”
Now, with over 1.2 million followers on TikTok, Seethal has worked with major brands including H&M and L’Oréal. The South Africa-born creator and influencer has also appeared on New York billboards and walked in the L’Oréal ‘Walk Your Worth’ campaign.
“That runway show pushed me out of my comfort zone,” she told Sowetan. “I’m not a model, but that experience gave me the confidence that I belong in big spaces. I learned to own who I am.”
Appearing in the H&M spring/summer campaign with her sister Tyla and others like FKA Twigs was also “an incredible experience” for her. “I enjoyed every moment of it. I still have to pinch myself when I think about it. To be part of something so global feels surreal — it’s definitely one of those accomplishments that makes me really proud of how far I’ve come.”
As someone who sees herself exploring various career paths, Seethal is also being trained as an actor. She is doing this with a coach in Los Angeles, where she is currently based.
“I’d love to do thrillers or sci-fi—just not horror!” she told Forbes. “Acting is something I’m taking seriously. I’m preparing now, so when the opportunity comes, I’m ready.”
Even though she rose through social media, the 21-year-old influencer has also ventured into real estate. Recently, she told Forbes that she was planning to unveil a company focusing exclusively on a model where she leases and designs properties to re-rent on short-term platforms.
“I’ve been into property for a while, but now it’s official. Everything’s registered. I’m building my business credit and planning to invest around $100,000. I don’t just want to make quick money—I want to build something sustainable,” Seethal told the business magazine.
In the long run, she aspires to establish a global lifestyle conglomerate. “I want to build something similar to Virgin Atlantic,” she said. “A group that spans hotels, airlines, fashion, lifestyle and real estate.
“And I’d call it Lorna, named after my grandmother–which is also my middle name. She’s the heart of our family. I want that name to live on in something powerful. This is about legacy, not just business.”
Certainly, Seethal’s family is paramount to her business. Her father, Sherwin, an accountant; her uncle, a tax consultant; and her brother, who is her manager, play huge roles in her business.
The youngest of four siblings — Whitney, Jasmin, Tyla and Tyrese — Seethal has been seen at big occasions, including the recent MTV awards and the Met Gala in New York City with her celebrity sister Tyla. Still, she has her own dreams.
“I’m proud to be Tyla’s sister and we are extremely close,” she said. “I’m not trying to break away from that—I think we can shine together. I’ve learned so much from her journey, but I have my own voice, my own passions.”
