In a move that’s sparking conversation across social media, Doja Cat is putting family front and center in her newest music release.
The US-born rapper and singer, whose real name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, recently dropped the star-studded video for her single Gorgeous, giving fans an intimate glimpse of her personal world.
A Star-Studded Video with a Personal Twist
The Gorgeous video is already turning heads for its lineup of supermodels including Alex Consani, Anok Yai, Irina Shayk, Alek Wek, and Imaan Hammam.
But the real personal touch comes from Doja’s own mother, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer, who makes a cameo alongside her daughter.
In one memorable scene, the mother-daughter duo appear side by side as Doja sings lines like:
“I look like my family; I don’t need to brag. Even when we sit in the dark, I feel the prettiest that you ever saw.”
The lyrics emphasize beauty, confidence, and the familial pride that Doja clearly feels, shining a light on the woman who helped shape her.
South African Roots and Upcoming Performances
Doja’s ties to South Africa run deep. She is the daughter of South African singer and actor Dumisani Dlamini, though her father returned home when she was very young, leaving her to grow up with her mother in the US.
She has a brother, Raman Dalithando, from Dumisani’s side.
Fans in South Africa will get a chance to see Doja live later this year when she performs as part of the Hey Neighbour music festival in December, bringing her global stardom back to her roots.
The Complicated Relationship with Her Father
While Doja’s relationship with her mother is celebrated in Gorgeous, her connection to her father has been much more complicated.
Publicly, she has called out Dumisani Dlamini, criticizing him for leaving the family.
In May 2024, she ranted on social media, calling him a “deadbeat” and even joking about giving him a kiss “for the critics.”
She later appeared to soften her tone, posting a follow-up that read: “JK [Just Kidding] Love you, I was mad.”
Despite the public ups and downs, Doja has consistently maintained that she has never had a meaningful relationship with her father.
Doja Cat Celebrates Family on Her Own Terms
With Gorgeous, Doja Cat is reclaiming the narrative and celebrating the people who have been there for her—especially her mother.
It’s a rare and heartwarming moment that blends her music, her heritage, and her family story in a way fans don’t often get to see.