Martha Kay Takes The Lead!

“I was telling someone recently that if there was something I could change about myself, it would be my bum,” Martha Kay tells me. “When I walk into a room and have something sensible to say, someone will make a comment about it instead. I wish they knew that I have so much more to offer. It takes so much attention that whatever I have to say is irrelevant at that point.”

On the heels of the launch her book ‘Stuck in the Web’, the social media star is back with something that’s even closer to her heart. She talks to Satisfashion UG about the project, ‘take charge’ and so much more.

It’s been a while since we last had a chat (see story here), what have you been up to?

A lot, a mental health project, which I hope to unveil very soon, and more.

What’s this project about?

When I had my rough patch, for a very long time, everyone was just telling me to get over it. That I’d be okay, these things happen. I never met someone who had gone through it and told me, “Here, you know, do this.” Here, do it like this.” They say, if you want to pursue anything in life, find someone who has walked the road you’re planning to take. I want to bring that to people.

I want to get people who have overcome situations to help those who are going through them. I want to give people access to psychological health and therapists because people are in bars for that reason. Every day, bars are full because people have a lot of things on their minds but don’t know where to go. I recently found out that there are 28 mental health facilities in this country. Can you imagine? For over 40 million people?

I have been working on that for the last couple of months. Hopefully it will kick off soon. Of course, I have been doing my influencing projects, I still do photography, the rest is normal life, but I am really excited about that project because it’s something I am so passionate about.

You recently published a book ‘Stuck in the Web’, chronicling your experience finding fame on social media. And now, this mental health project. Why is impacting lives important to you?

Like I said, when I was going through the rough patch, I didn’t have anyone to go to. Yes, I had a good support system; my family, parents, and siblings were very supportive, but you can’t tell me anything if you haven’t walked in my shoes. I met a girl who had an accident and had her leg amputated. She told me that everyone say, “It’s okay, at least you are still alive, you will be fine” wasn’t making things any better. You have two legs. How can you tell me that? She spent a week asking if she would be put in touch with someone who lost their limb too.

“I would believe them if they told me that it shall be okay. You’re telling me it will be okay. Surely it will be okay, but you, with two legs and a car (laughs), are telling me it will be okay,” she was distraught.

I can’t be there for everyone, but I can bring people who have gone through challenges closer to those who need help.

In my own experience, when I tried seeking help, I felt like nobody could understand me at that time until I started to reach out to people that had been through a similar challenge. However, not everyone has access to these celebrities.

How about I get you closer to that person so that they tell you it’s going to be okay. I wish I had that and that’s my desire; to help other people because people are going through a lot.

Wow! There has always been this perception that because you have the looks, there is nothing more you can offer. Have you had your share of this?   

It’s called the pretty privilege (laughs). It can work for or against you. Recently, I walked into a room to make a presentation on the project I am going to do, and the guy listened, but I don’t think he was listening to anything I was saying, so he asked if I was the face of the project, and I said no, I am the founder. He gave me this sheepish look, you know. And I was like “that’s sad.”

So many women say they can’t do certain things and succeed at them because they feel they won’t be taken seriously. How about you do it with dignity, as I did with my photography? I let my work speak for itself, and people began looking for me. I was telling someone recently that if there was something I could change about myself, it would be my bum (laughs) because I find that when I walk into a room and have something sensible to say, someone will make a comment about it instead. I wish they knew that I have so much more to offer. It takes so much attention that whatever I have to say is irrelevant at that point.

I know so many people, who would want a bigger bum and all that, but it’s kind of a setback when it’s all people think you are good for. Do you know Martha, the girl with a big bum? Do you know Martha the photographer or content creator? When I got a first class degree at university, most people were like, “aah! You can get that with that bum. Of course, you can get anything. And you’re like “that’s not fair,” like I mean, people will not see what I am saying because they are looking at my face, and then how will I know they are not listening? After like three sentences when they ask me the same question!

But, I think it’s a blessing too because there are places I walk in and get positive attention; being called in front of the line for example.  Everything has its good and bad. You just have to find a way to balance them. I don’t like it when girls say no one will listen to me because I look like this. You just have to earn it, work a little harder to prove yourself.

Oh, no! Let’s talk about content creation, which is a big deal at the moment. How have you managed to stay relevant?

Keeping up with the trends can be hard. You know, most people feel like they shouldn’t follow trends, but you have to. Either you set your own trends or follow the trends to stay relevant.  You have to be your own creative person, and what do I mean? I do lots of things, only to see someone replicating them.

So, whenever I meet people that ask how they can be like me, I tell them to be their own selves, because when you’re yourself, you stand out. If you try to copy, you can never stay relevant. You have to be unique. I don’t think there is anyone who does what I do, even if they try. They can’t. The same way I can’t do what Anne Kansiime does (definitely), or what Sesebat does.

How, then, do you keep your creative juices flowing?

Most people don’t believe that I’m an introvert. I like to spend a lot of my time alone, and from that, I get inspiration because my mind is free. I usually take a day off every week, switch off my phone, and just think. Ideas come to me like that.

Another thing is that, I watch a lot of content because there is nothing new. My brother, who is an artist, would tell me that there’s nothing new. There are things I watch and I am like, whuu! I should do something like that, but in a Martha Kay way. So, yeah, taking time to think and also watching a lot of content. The more you watch, read, try, and see what people are doing, the better you will be.

Who are the content creators you’re watching?

Marage, there is a girl named Gloria, she is Nigerian; she has the best content for me in the world. Her instagram name is Marage, but she is Gloria Oluroun. I also like Sesabat when you come to Uganda. I find it so creative and different. I really enjoy his content, and he is very consistent. I love Steve Chuks, he’s Nigerian too.

Is it a career option worth considering?

The unfortunate thing about creating content is that many people will not understand it. I will create four characters and shoot the whole day. We shall all be talking to each other, and because I am shy, I cannot have a camera guy, I will do it myself. I will write a script and go behind the camera, record it, and come back. Sometimes it’s not recording, so I have to do a fresh change of outfits and put on a moustache. I find it demoralizing when you go through all that only for someone to offer you 100k or exposure for a project.

Is it paying? I will say it has taken a bit of time for me to get there. Starting from the point when I had to find out how to charge. How do to package and monetize content. I have learned that having management has greatly helped because they will show potential clients my numbers. .

I’m sure all of you readers are wondering how content creators make money because all they do is slay. They make money through endorsements. Wondering why I’m constantly posting content? People will start to follow me. The more people following me, the more my insights and numbers will grow, and then when I go to pitch to MTN, Airtel, or Coca-Cola, I will tell them, “Look, 80000 people view my status, stories, or posts. 60% of them are men. 40% women. What’s your target market? 12% are between 18 and 24.” Surely, with the 800k followers, even if only 10% actually come and buy the product, that’s value. That’s how we get paid.

The more numbers you have, the more money you can make. It’s not easy. It takes a while and you really have to be buzzing  consistently with quality content.

I’ve also learned that the more you invest in your work, the more consistent your production, content, and idea are, the more money you can make because people make money, and I began to make money. Now that I have Swangz as my management, they will pitch and I will feel like I also want to work with that girl (laughs). I can feel like eeh! Then the client pays, and you’re like, “Yeah, this is serious money and it works.”

So you would advise someone to get organized…

Yes! The thing with creatives, I used to get so demoralized when I met a client and I said I want 2 million. You will be shy because it’s very hard to market yourself and they will ask. For what? You will get demoralized because that’s your art. When you get demoralized, they see it, and since these people are experienced, they have been in the industry, and  are trained to squeeze you, you end up doing the work unhappy.

I struggled with it for a long time because in Uganda, when you have a manager, people are like eeh! eeh! Who do you think you are, Mr. Manager? Are you Beyonce? But when I got management, I don’t have to worry about the business side, I only make sure I do what I have to do. Creativity is supposed to flow from your veins. You can’t be creative when you are unhappy. You can’t.

Now that I have Swangz, they worry about the clients as I worry about the production of my content. That’s it. It’s such a peaceful place to be.

How did you land the management deal with Swangz?

I worked with a couple of managers before who really put me through a lot. During my scandal, many clients were distraught and wanted to pull out. My then manager told me she had her personal issues and so couldn’t help me. That was the time I needed her the most. I was stressed and confused.

 I said to myself, “I am done.” I got to a point and said, “Let me leave this thing and focus on other revenue streams.”

Last year, I met someone from Swangz, I was sharing with him my challenges, “I really wish I could talk to Julius Kyazze and see how he could support me,” I said. I was stressed about it, so he asked me to  come in for a meeting. When I got there, they were planning to launch their influencer program, so that’s how I got there. I just put it out there and it happened. I am really grateful!

Styling: Kai’s Divo Collection

Makeup: Imani Makeup

Hair: Natna Hair

Photography: Walter Photography

This story is a collaborative project between Natna Hair, Kai’s Divo Collection, Walter Photography & Satisfashion UG.