Suzan Mutesi (born Suzan Faith Mutesi Mufumbiro; 21 June 1986) is a Ugandan-Australian actress, model and

fashion designer Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. The term implies a look defined by the fashion in ...

Early life and education

Originally from

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...

, Mutesi moved to Australia to complete her high school at Delany College, Granville. She received a

Bachelor of Design A Bachelor of Design (B.Des. or B.Design) degree is usually an undergraduate academic degree in the field of design awarded for a course or major that generally lasts three or four years. It is the undergraduate equivalent of the Master of Design, ...

with a major in

fashion Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. The term implies a look defined by the fashion in ...

at Raffles KvB Institute of Technology.

Career

Film and television

Mutesi was a regular featured extra on channel 7 Australian series ''

Headland A headland, also known as a head, is a coastal landform, a point of land usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends into a body of water. It is a type of promontory. A headland of considerable size often is called a cape.Whittow, John ...

'' (2005–2006). Mutesi has featured in TV adverts on Australian television like Fox 8 summer AD in 2011; she also featured on an international Nicabate Ad 2013 up to 2014. Mutesi co-hosted with African American actor Pascal Atuma, Desmond Elliot and John Dumelo at the 2013 African Australian Music and Movie Awards. She has also appeared in music videos like "Star Fire" by Scrim and "Mr Dread locks" by Latifa ft. LL Bock. Mutesi had a role in the movie ''Gossip Nation'' (2012), and was an extra in '' The Wolverine'' and ''The Australian'' working alongside Nicole Kidman, Wil.I.am and Hugh Jackman. She also played an extra in the movie ''

Truth Truth is the property of being in accord with fact or reality.Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionarytruth 2005 In everyday language, truth is typically ascribed to things that aim to represent reality or otherwise correspond to it, such as beliefs ...

'' starring Cate Blanchett and

Dennis Quaid Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American actor known for a wide variety of dramatic and comedic roles. First gaining widespread attention in the late 1970s, some of his notable credits include ''Breaking Away'' (1979), '' The ...

. Mutesi appeared in the 2009 movie '' X-Men Origins: Wolverine'', the 2015 movie ''Irreversible Choices'', the 2019 TV series ''

Deadly Women ''Deadly Women'' is an American true crime documentary television series produced by Beyond International Group and airing on the Investigation Discovery (ID) network. The series focuses on murders committed by women. It is hosted by former ...

'', and the 2020 film ''

Moon Rock For Monday Moon Rock For Monday is a 2022 Cinema of Australia, Australian independent film. The film was written and directed by Kurt Martin and produced by Jim Robison. It stars Australian actors George Pullar, Nicholas Hope, Alan Dukes, Aaron Jeffery, Jessi ...

'' directed by Kurt Martin. In 2021, she appeared in the Marvel film ''

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ''Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'' is a 2021 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Shang-Chi. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 25th film ...

'' and had a role in the film '' Ruby's Choice'' as 'shopper 1'. In 2022, she appeared in '' The Challenge: Australia'', a

reality television Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...

competition series hosted by presenter and sports commentator Brihony Dawson and premiered on

Network 10 Network 10 (commonly known as Ten Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network owned by Ten Network Holdings, a division of the Paramount Networks UK & Australia subsidiary of Paramount Global. One of five ...

. She has also played a DJ on the Netflix show ''

Heartbreak High ''Heartbreak High'' is an Australian television program created by Michael Jenkins and Ben Gannon that ran from 1994 to 1996 on Network Ten and 1997 to 1999 on the ABC, for seven series. It was also partially funded from 1996 by BBC2, with so ...

''.

Fashion and advocacy

In early 2014, Mutesi launched the Heart of Gold Africa organization affiliated with "Suzan Mutesi Fashion House", a designer label of African inspiration. 10% of the money spent at the label is given to the foundation. Heart of Gold Africa was formed to assist the rural people of Africa in attaining information to fight the

digital age The Information Age (also known as the Computer Age, Digital Age, Silicon Age, or New Media Age) is a historical period that began in the mid-20th century. It is characterized by a rapid shift from traditional industries, as established during t ...

, advocate for their fundamental rights and improve their health and socio-economic status. The organization provides education and awareness using an integrated approach of communication. She showcased at Fashion Aid Forward 2015, hosted by Channel Ten's Henry Roth with most of Melbourne's best designers and Project Runway winners in a theatrical circus Nocturne runway.

Writing

Mutesi is the author of ''Unapologetically Black: Afro Sisters'', published in 2020.

Awards and accolades

In 2012, Mutesi received recognition as a fashion designer from Celebrate African Australians. She won the Fashion Icon Award at the Afro-Australian Music & Movie Awards in 2014. In the same year she also won the Abryanz Award 2014 for the Best Fashion Contributor in the Diaspora in Uganda Africa. She received a "Best Book Author" award from Celebration of African-Australians Inc. for her first book, ''Unapologetically Black''.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mutesi, Suzan Australian fashion designers Australian women fashion designers 1986 births Living people Ugandan fashion designers Ugandan women fashion designers Australian people of Ugandan descent Ugandan emigrants to Australia Participants in American reality television series