Girl Power

LeAnne Dlamini talks life, love and making an impact with and for women and girls. A powerhouse of gentle focus and heart, she shares her journey to thriving in her 30s

- STEFANIE TITUS

She is beauty, she is grace - but more importantly, she radiates kindness, sincerity and a sense of calm from deep within. As I arrived at the cover shoot, the good vibes surrounding LeAnne Dlamini, 37, spoke volumes. No stranger to Balanced Life, having appeared on the cover some years ago, LeAnne is a light-hearted, warm and passionate singer and philanthropist who possesses a special quality that instantly puts everyone in the room at ease.

Born and raised in Johannesburg, where she lives with her husband Sipho and their daughters Zani-Lee (12) and Zaya Rose (8), LeAnne's philosophies are rooted in her family and the culture she works hard at cultivating through her work. She started in the music industry almost 20 years ago while she was still in high school, and it affirmed her belief that the world needed more kindness, support and collaboration, particularly among women and that it should stem from them. In conversation after an gorgeous shoot, she beams as she tells me of her fierce belief in collaboration over competition, also of her dream of raising her girls to be kind, strong and supportive of other girls.

Inspiration, passion and vision so sincere doesn't show itself without having lived a life and learned some lessons, both good and bad.

One of the key questions while corresponding with LeAnne was how her idea of womanhood has shifted from her childhood lens, and in her answer she echoes words that may resonate with many women, and shows that she's just one of the girls leaning into owning her space as a woman and embracing her many gifts and ambitions. 'I always knew that women could go out there and work, be free and didn't need to be only a housewife. However, I used to think that women could only have one job, and boy has that changed! I now know that we can wear many hats, even at the same time as I often find myself doing it,' she starts.