He lost his mother and veteran TV presenter Vinolia Mashego in 2021. Since then, he has dominated the limelight through his social media skits, read-carpet looks, socialite status and as Birth of Stars reality show star. But behind the smiles and fabulous life, Oratile "Coachella Randy" Masedi says he has been battling depression.

DEPRESSION

The Feather Award-winner explains that depression has been scary. "I am fighting to be genuinely okay, from my hair follicles to the lines under my feet," he says. "I was so scared for my life and thought I was crossing over. I knew I had to fight for my life, but I didn’t even know where I was in this world." He says this is the scariest thing any person can go through. "But I am grateful it happened to me. My life is changing for the best at the moment... I live on meds now, until I feel better."

TAKING CARE OF HIS MENTAL HEALTH

 He says he is grateful to everyone who has supported him through this time. "I’m posting about this not for pity or sympathy, but to raise awareness of how important it is to take care of your mental health," he says. "The reality is that we only become mindful and conscious of things when we only experience them."

When his mom passed away, two years ago, he described the feeling as almost like a dream, and he thought he would never wake up. "No one loved me as you did, no one cared for me like you did, no one sacrificed for me like you did, no one prayed for me like you did, no one protected me like you did, no one shaped me like you did, and no one made me happy like you did," he said in a tribute. "Today I’m on my knees, looking up and saying thank you for the times we spend here on earth together. For all the times we cried, laughed, jumped, screamed, played, baked, prayed, watched TV, did dishes together. If I had to choose another mother again, I’d choose you, again and again." He said he wouldn’t ever stop celebrating her power, courage, talent, strength, drive and determination. "What you did for this industry and how you inspired a lot of us. I’m trying my best to pick up from where you left off and I hope you’re proud of me. I lost you, but I know you still live inside me," he wrote.