Podcast host, entrepreneur, and beauty and lifestyle content creator Sharon K Mwangi is just weeks away from turning 30, and the milestone has left her feeling reflective—and slightly unsettled. Isn’t 30 supposed to be the new 20? Well, for Sharon, the shift has come with some startling realizations she hadn’t anticipated.
One of the most notable changes? The subtle but undeniable shift in how she’s addressed by street vendors. Sharon humorously lamented the transition from being called “siste” to “auntie,” marking her entry into the grown-woman club.
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“I turn 30 in a couple of weeks, and one thing I wasn’t prepared for is that now when I go to Toi Market, they always say, ‘Auntie, nguo za watoto.’ It’s always about kids’ clothes! When did the transition happen from ‘siste crop tops’ to this?” she quipped.
On her podcast, Best Kept Secrets, Sharon opened up about her mixed feelings about the big 3-0 and the unexpected societal shifts that come with it. She expressed frustration at being presumed “too old” for certain fashion trends.
“Why is no one offering me crop tops anymore?” she mused. “Is it something on my face that says, ‘You’re of age now, you’re a mum, and crop tops aren’t for you’? I’m not okay!”
Sharing her dilemma on social media, Sharon asked her followers if they too had experienced this “switch” and sought answers to when it all happens. “Are you still being offered crop tops, or has the switch happened to you too?” she asked, adding a nervous laugh emoji. She also wondered, “Who decided mums can’t wear crop tops?” punctuated with a crying emoji.
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In response, nearly 400 fans chimed in, sharing their own “aha moments” about growing older. Some described even more jarring instances, such as being called “mama” by children or being urged to buy more traditional items like nduma.
One fan, @iamjulie.k, joked, “Wait for the day they’ll chase you down to buy nduma.” Another, @FolaDesign, added, “It hits harder when kids call you ‘mama’ as you pass by!”
To all the soon-to-be 30-year-olds navigating these societal shifts: good luck! Age may bring new titles, but it doesn’t have to limit your style or spirit.
