Evicted ‘Big Brother Mzansi’ Housemate Kokii Opens Up on Mental Health and Hard‑Won Lessons

For many viewers, Big Brother Mzansi: Bazozwa delivered all the expected drama: alliances, disputes, and late-night conversations. But for Koketso “Kokii” Beuzana, her time in the house focused on personal growth and self-reflection.

At 27, the freelance model from Carltonville had a personal story few reality TV contestants openly shared. Before entering the Big Brother house, Kokii had survived serious episodes of depression triggered by the death of her grandmother. That loss was not just a sad chapter. It pushed her to a point where she recognised she was unsafe alone and checked herself into professional care.

Kokii – Instagram

That willingness to acknowledge vulnerability was part of what made her inside-house experience so intense. “I’m very soft,” she said. “I cry properly.” But on national television, with cameras constantly rolling, she learned to manage that emotion, using quick tears and quiet moments under a blanket to maintain her public façade.

Kokii’s biggest challenge was not just strategic manoeuvring or alliances. It was a psychological test created by Big Brother’s structural twists, particularly the gender-segregated groupings the show enforced in its early weeks. Being separated from certain personalities unsettled her far more than she expected, affecting her deeply on multiple levels.

Kokii – Instagram

This response was influenced by real-world friendships and past comfort zones. For Kokii, who grew up “around boys,” the separation felt like a wedge between her and the emotional security she usually relies on, which led to tension and conflict.

Her struggle was not limited to social dynamics. One notorious weekend punishment, where dishes, food and toilet paper were strewn across the kitchen floor, overwhelmed her. Already tired and hungover, she described simply as “crashing” under the chaos, unable to compartmentalise.

Kokii – Instagram

Kokii went beyond standard post-eviction commentary, sharing concrete ways she confronted her anxiety, controlled her reactions, and maintained her mental health in the house. She discussed self-regulation: learning her triggers, understanding how to “sit with emotions” rather than let them explode, and realising that while depression is part of her life, it does not define her.

Inside the house, without private space, she learned to carve out tiny moments of release. Her coping was not dramatic or performative; it was practical and personal, retreating to her bed, pulling a blanket over her head, and letting herself cry briefly.

Kokii – Instagram

Asked what she would tell her pre-Big Brother self, Kokii did not talk about strategy or who to trust. She spoke about self-expression: “You are talented, you can sing, act, model, dress. Showcase that more.” This revealed that she came into the competition not just to survive, but to be seen.

Despite the tough climb and her eviction on 8 February during a live show hosted by Smash Afrika, she walked away with clarity about her strengths and vulnerabilities. She leaves the Big Brother house not diminished by the vote, but with a clearer picture of who she is and what she needs to protect, even when a national TV audience is watching.