About

Photos by Micaela Sling Photography (@micaelasling_photography)

“Through building this business, I’ve come to deeply value the importance of championing women-led home industries. It’s a cause I care about passionately.”

BBCAKES CPT was launched in late 2022 as a student side hustle. At the time, I noticed a gap in the market for premium cake products that appealed to a younger, trend-conscious audience. Much like the social scene, the cake culture in Cape Town can be very cliquey. My vision for BBCAKES was to create a brand that young women could relate to—regardless of their social, financial, or religious background. This inspired the pink, girly aesthetic and our fun, artsy designs. The goal was to build a community of women who celebrate the little things, find joy in creative gifting, and embrace art in everyday life.

BBCAKES was born from a creative hobby. I come from a community where home-grown creative ventures like baking, sewing, and crocheting are often dismissed as informal, low-paying “women’s work.” Through building this business, I’ve come to deeply value the importance of challenging those stereotypes and championing women-led home industries. It’s a cause I care about passionately.

My background blends both the technical and the creative. In school, I was equally passionate about math and visual art. I graduated from Rustenburg Girls’ High School in Cape Town with seven distinctions and an award for community service. I was actively involved in school societies, which gave me my first taste of planning and business. I later pursued a Bachelor of Business Science in Economics (Hons) at UCT. I’ve always had a technical mind, with hands and a heart that long to create—and that’s how entrepreneurship found its place in my life.

Since then, I’ve never looked back. I took the leap and turned my creative side hustle into a full-time job at 23 years old in 2024, a move that was both liberating and challenging. The BBCAKES community has grown from strength to strength, reaching over 10,000 Instagram followers within 10 months of going full-time. Our products have evolved, and our team has grown. Today, we are a vibrant team of five women who all share a passion for creating. We work in a collaborative, nurturing environment where we’re constantly improving our processes and introducing fresh, on-trend products.

People often ask how we manage to thrive in a space that’s so saturated with competition. My answer is always this: I find that when you’re doing something truly out of creative passion and a love for making, you are no longer selling a product, but instead, you begin to sell experiences and unique moments. Soon, your brand becomes laced with love, joy and celebration. This is truly priceless.