What does Maps ‘R180K hat collection’ Maponyane actually do?

Anyone who is familiar with media personality Masego ‘Maps’ Maponyane has, at one point or another, wondered what he actually does.

The young star got his biggest commercial break back in 2013 when he beat out 11 other gorgeous men to be crowned Cosmopolitan Magazine’s sexiest man, and boy did he run with it. He has since carved out quite the career for himself that spans a number of media and entrepreneurial exploits.

Perhaps that is one of the subconscious reasons why he is so fond of hats – he has become the kind of man that wears many.

He first showed off his collection, which takes pride of place in his home, in video inserts for House & Garden as well as Top Billing.

Maps Maponyane shows off his hat collection on Top Billing | Image: YouTube

Maps Maponyane shows off his hat collection on Top Billing | Image: YouTube

He later brought them along on a shoot for Forbes Africa magazine as part of their cover feature that focuses on African personalities and their quirky collections.

Speaking to the publication, he lists his grandfather as his primary style inspiration when it comes to headgear.

“He was of the generation of Sophiatown, always [fully] dressed in their Sunday best. There would always be a complete look with him and his peers with the hat, and I always loved how it complemented their outfit,” he said.

He is so in love with the accessory that he does not mind spending as much as R4,500 just to have the one he wants – which is what he once did when he fell for a piece by England-based hat maker Christy’s of London.

The publication estimated his entire collection at a worth of over R180,000 and it consists of over 200 hats, which is just as many jobs as he holds down.

It was on the brink of death numerous times and just kept resuscitating it with every chance we could. Promises being made, and not being kept. Waiting on people to pull through for you to survive…and making a plan to cut everything else to keep it alive in any way possible…

— Maps Maponyane (@MapsMaponyane) November 16, 2018

So many invaluable lessons learned from it, and a reminder of the level of risk that comes with it all. Dust off and now to do better in the next one, there's always the next one, and now you're that much better prepared for it.👊🏽🙏🏾

— Maps Maponyane (@MapsMaponyane) November 16, 2018

In addition to working as a television presenter and event MC, he has moonlighted as an actor, fashion designer, public speaker, model, creative consultant, voice-over artist and philanthropist and that’s not even the half of it.

Take a look at the list of the roles we are aware of:

• Owner of Buns Out – a burger joint in Linden
• Samsung South Africa brand ambassador
• Editor-at-large of Sawubona Magazine
• SA Rugby brand ambassador
• Film producer – he has a rom-com which he co-produced with Terry Pheto. It will be releasing in 2020
• He will be launching an MCC sparkling wine between 2019 and 2020

READ NEXT: Maps Maponyane shares his top travel tips

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