It’s a Lifestyle | Beyond content theft: Onezwa Mbola’s battle with biases in Nara Smith controversy

(L) Content creator Onezwa Mbola. (@onezwambola/X, formerly known as Twitter) (R) Model and influencer Nara Smith (Darren Gerrish/Getty Images)

The controversy between Onezwa Mbola and Nara Smith highlights not only the issue of content theft but also the deeper societal biases that favour certain people over others based on appearance and social status. The situation underscores the impact of featurism, pretty privilege, and societal allure on public perception and respect, revealing a troubling disparity in how success and credibility are awarded in the digital age.

When it comes to the controversy between Onezwa Mbola and Nara Smith, the real issue lies not just in the content theft accusations but in the deeper societal belief that one woman is more deserving of respect than the other.

This all started when Onezwa announced that she would stop making content. She was disheartened, and rightfully so. Nara Smith, it seemed, had been stealing her content and gaining more success and money from it, while Onezwa’s efforts went largely unrewarded. Nara initially claimed she didn’t know her and had never seen her content. However, this defence fell apart when Nara’s own followers exposed her. They revealed that Nara had commented on her posts in the past, even calling Onezwa’s content inspiring.