She’s a fashion designer, a singer, an actress, an influencer, a writer, a podcaster — and more. I’ve spoken with her, read one of her books, listened to her podcast, studied her dress designs, explored her social media presence — and yet, I still can’t quite grasp it: who is Suzan Mutesi?
The truth is, I don’t know. Or maybe I don’t want to know. Because perhaps mystery is what makes Suzan so special. She stands out as an outsider — determined, radiant, tireless. An immigrant who came to Australia from Uganda in her teens to be reunited with her mother, who had left when Suzan was just three years old to build a life Down Under.
All of this sounds deeply traumatic, and yet the woman in front of me is luminous — as if life were a breeze. Suzan’s enthusiasm and smile are contagious, to the point that she could probably charge for her “feel-good services.” Instead, she offers them freely: positivity, good vibes, an unshakeable desire to succeed, regardless of what life throws at her — racism, patriarchy, prejudice, sexism.
Right now, she’s writing the script for a new TV series. She’s awaiting the release of a film in which she plays a French woman. She’s dreaming up new projects with those magical, razor-sharp yet tender eyes. And it’s possible she may headline an event called “Soirée with Suzan” later this year, hosted by a certain Frenchman with a knack for making cultural connections — perhaps even at the Alliance Française Sydney’s Philo Bistro, if you catch my drift.
All this to say: Suzan is busy. Busy like a beautiful bee, moving from flower to flower, taking in the best of what life offers and leaving the rest for those who lack imagination.
On the red carpet, she radiates ease, humour, and warmth — whether she’s attending the Alliance Française French Film Festival or the beautiful Van Cleef & Arpels exhibition that just opened. It was at the latter that I understood what might irritate her critics, the ones who have mockingly dubbed her “the red carpet pest.”
But they’re missing the point. Suzan’s way of showing up and shining like a star is a statement — a personal statement. It’s the voice of an immigrant from war-torn Uganda who dares to take up space. It’s her saying to the world: “I will have my part of the cake too.” It’s a reminder of all the uncomfortable truths Australia still struggles to face as a nation.
We should be thanking Suzan for that — not looking down on her.
After all, how often do you meet a soul whose window on the world is a smile?
Olivier Vojetta
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