Her ambition is less about having all the answers and more about having the courage to keep showing up.
For Monica Ronoh, known as Cheruto, identity has never been something fixed. She describes herself as someone who actively seeks beauty in everyday life, drawing inspiration from meaningful connections, her surroundings and her faith. She is an empath, a creative and a self-described experimenter who is unafraid to reinvent her style or discover another side of herself.
Perhaps that openness comes from the environments that shaped her. Growing up in Witbank before moving to Pretoria, Cheruto experienced the contrast between a small-town upbringing and the fast pace of a major city. Rather than making her feel divided, the transition taught her that identity can evolve with every chapter of life.
“I’ve learned that who I am is not static, but something shaped continuously by the phase of my life I’m in.”
That sense of multiplicity is also reflected in the two worlds she is currently building: healthcare and modelling. Her interest in Audiology began through early exposure to healthcare professionals and a natural desire to interact with and help people. University, however, opened another door. While studying, she began exploring fashion content and experimenting with her own personal style. What initially began as curiosity eventually became something more tangible after she attended Braam Fashion Week simply for the experience. There, she met models who encouraged her to consider the possibility that she could belong in that space too. Not so long after that, she found herself on her first collaboration photoshoot. It was the beginning of a dual journey that continues to challenge her understanding of what is possible.
Modelling itself was not entirely unfamiliar. Pageantry had introduced Cheruto to the world when she was younger, after she became a finalist in several competitions. She remembers being drawn to the transformation that came with it, the glamour, the cameras, the heels and the feeling of stepping outside her everyday self. “It’s a mix of excitement and nerves,” she says. “That feeling is what initially drew me to modelling and what keeps me motivated to this day.”
Today, however, her relationship with modelling goes beyond the thrill of being in front of a camera. Creativity has become an opportunity to explore the different sides of herself while still remaining grounded in who she is. Her visual identity tends towards colourful yet minimalist styling, but she deliberately pushes herself into unfamiliar territory with every project. For Cheruto, creativity exists somewhere between comfort and discomfort: retaining elements of what feels familiar while challenging herself to explore new concepts.
That balance also informs how she chooses the projects she works on. Cheruto believes authenticity begins before the camera starts rolling. She is intentional about the creative spaces she enters, communicates clearly with collaborators and makes sure she understands the vision of a project before committing to it.
She carries with her advice that has stayed with her: not every opportunity is meant for you, and the right ones will align naturally. It is a philosophy that has helped her navigate an industry where rejection can easily become personal.
Through her images, she wants to tell stories of multidimensionality and resilience. She is particularly interested in the experiences of people who have questioned whether they are “allowed” to exist in certain spaces, or whether pursuing multiple passions somehow makes one less credible.
For her, that feeling is personal. She has questioned whether pursuing modelling alongside healthcare could make one passion discredit the other. Instead of allowing that uncertainty to define her, she has chosen to see the duality as part of her strength.
“I firmly believe that there really is no criteria for what you can pursue, except courage”
Faith is another important part of that courage. It grounds her and gives meaning to the uncertainty that comes with building something before knowing exactly where it will lead. She hopes her work can communicate that tension, the space between uncertainty and the willingness to act because, for her, that is where genuine growth happens.
Her Kenyan heritage also plays a significant role in how she understands beauty. Visits back home have deepened her appreciation for the culture, particularly its relationship with colour, fashion and individuality. She has learned to see beauty in features that are often overlooked by mainstream standards. Her East African heritage has given her a broader understanding of what beauty can look like.
Cheruto wants her work to contribute to greater representation, particularly for darker-skinned women who may not always see themselves reflected in the spaces they aspire to enter. More than anything, she wants women to understand that they are enough, even within an industry that can constantly make people feel as though they need to be more, look different or become someone else to belong.
At this stage of her journey, Cheruto is most excited about building an intentional platform, collaborating with creatives who inspire her and continuing to develop her craft. She is not trying to choose between the different parts of herself. She is learning how to let them coexist and finding strength in the fact that she does not have to be just one thing.