Influencer Nara Smith, known for promoting traditional wife roles, faces accusations from TikToker Onezwa Mbola of South Africa, alleging content theft.
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In the world of TikTok, a popular platform for food and lifestyle content, a heated debate has emerged between two creators: Nara Smith and Onezwa Mbola. This controversy centers around accusations that Nara Smith copied Onezwa’s original cooking content, with the dispute gaining attention in August 2025.
Nara Smith, with her 7.7 million followers, is renowned for her "made from scratch" recipes and her highly desirable lifestyle, often featuring herself in lavish gowns and jewellery as she cooks for her family. In contrast, Onezwa Mbola, who gained fame after participating in Master Chef South Africa season four in 2022, has a unique style characterized by her soft and soothing voice and a more hands-on and rustic approach to cooking. She lives on a farm in South Africa, sources ingredients directly from her land, and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. Onezwa Mbola currently boasts over 530,000 followers.
The similarities between their videos have raised questions about the authenticity of Nara Smith’s content. Onezwa Mbola claims that Nara Smith changes her videos "just enough" to avoid blatant copying, while users have pointed out striking resemblances in recipe use, style, presentation, and specific steps displayed in the videos. This has led to accusations of plagiarism rather than mere inspiration or coincidence.
This controversy has sparked a broader debate about content originality and ethics in the creator community. For creators of color, such incidents can perpetuate systemic inequalities in visibility and credit, as their work is sometimes appropriated without acknowledgment or compensation.
The incident highlights critical issues for content creators on TikTok:
- Intellectual Property and Originality: Creators need clear guidelines and tools to protect their content and prove originality, especially on fast-moving platforms like TikTok.
- Community Ethics and Accountability: The incident calls for stronger community standards and possibly platform enforcement against plagiarism, fostering respect for original creators.
- Impact on Creators of Color: The controversy is a case study in how creators of color may be particularly vulnerable to content appropriation, affecting their economic opportunities and creative recognition.
In response to the accusations, Nara Smith has stated that she has "never seen [Onezwa Mbola's] videos," and that she is "not the first or last person to make boba." Onezwa Mbola, in turn, has announced a break from TikTok due to the content copying allegations.
The Nara Smith vs. Onezwa Mbola plagiarism controversy serves as a significant example of the risks content creators face regarding plagiarism on social media, highlighting the need for improved protections and awareness, particularly for marginalized creators.
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