ABONGWE QOKELA
Social media manager; model
My scars are… Beautiful.
When Abongwe was a child, she pulled on a tablecloth, which resulted in pouring hot water on herself. The incident left her with burn marks on her chest and her right upper arm. For years she hid her scars under roundneck, long-sleeved T-shirts as she felt too self-conscious to let anyone see them. “It also meant that I wouldn’t swim in a normal bikini because I didn’t want to be exposed.” But slowly, “I realised that I can’t change them and I have to be okay with them,” Abongwe reveals. “It’s been a very slow process and an on and off process.” It’s important to remember, “You are not your scars. They are part of you, but you should never be defined by them. You are a winner, a survivor and the people you are hiding from most likely won’t care about your scars.” It took Abongwe a little while to get to this point of acceptance – in fact, she didn’t follow her dreams of a career in modelling until reaching the age of 30. Before 30, “I wasn’t confident, but now I wear my scars as a badge of honour, I wear them every day to show that I am powerful beyond measure and that I am a survivor.”
MARIKE JACOBS
Chartered accountant; yoga teacher in training
My scars are… Inspiring.
Bu hikaye Women's Health South Africa dergisinin October 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Women's Health South Africa dergisinin October 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Irreconcilable Differences?
You’re one-upping your partner on all health fronts and now your relationship has more tension than your new resistance bands. Here’s how to get over the hurdle of mismatched goals.
Hot And Bothered
Inflammation is all the rage in health conversations right now and research is establishing it as a major player in all sorts of issues you don't want to deal with. But! You can safeguard yourself from the smokin' internal inferno with these smart strategies.
Self-esteem under the microscope
The term brings to mind positive-thinking memes with sunset backdrops and swirly lettering. But could I you sum up self-esteem when asked as part of a pub quiz? Didn't think so. And there's more at stake here than winning the points.
the reset
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START OVER
Mind Over Muscle
Could you level up your strength training just by putting your mind to it?
ON BEING THE HEROINE OF YOUR OWN LIFE
Olympian. All-African Games winner. African champion. Record-breaker. Javelin athlete Jo-Ané van Dyk talks mental fortitude and what it takes to live up to your own hype. If there's one thing she can do, it's to throw down. And it's all about to reach peak levels.
Why Women Are Choosing to Be Child-Free
The choice can be liberating, yet stigmas persist. Here, how to cut through the noise with clarity and confidence to make the decision that's right for *you.*
FUEL YOUR SKIN
Inside your body, there's a crew of unsung protein heroes that scientists believe are the key to a healthy, glowing complexion. Heads-up: your routine is about to change for the better.
How To Be Decisive
You could use a Magic 8 ball to help you make a choice. Or, while you're waiting to 'ask again later', let our experts explain the best ways to get unstuck.
Build A Strong Base
You heard it here: the pelvic floor is the forgotten core - and you're selling yourself short by waiting for a specific life stage to train it. Your four-move workout is here.
