155 quotes found
"I was raised with the idea that you can feel sorry for yourself, but then, get over it, because it doesn't get you anywhere. … There was always this awareness that you have to be responsible for yourself in order to have what you want. And that meant "Be responsible with this little motorcycle that we're going to give you, because you're only five. If you're not, you're going to hurt yourself" -- which I did. My mom wasn't like, "Poor baby." She was like, "You do wheelies. That's what's going to happen." My mom's philosophy was, "If you get yourself in trouble, you've got to get yourself out of trouble.""
"I grew up on a farm in South Africa, so I’ve always been surrounded by animals. I was raised by a mother who always had great compassion and respect toward animals. It was instilled in me. I grew up that way. So when I see dogs or other animals suffer, it’s just been something close to my heart."
"Athletes, spectators from every corner of the world, this is a message of peace by my beloved countryman Nelson Mandela: "Peace is not just the absence of conflict; peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference." Today this message seems more relevant than ever, so let these games be more than just sport, let them be a reminder of our common humanity, our respect for one another and a resounding call for peace everywhere."
"But when people emotionally connect with what you’re trying to do, or it resonates with them, that’s a huge reward."
"Food is fundamental to any development, growth or change."
"When you're fighting for something, it's always a grueling battle."
"We’ve always believed that our platforms are bigger than us. “Influence” comes with responsibility.... As couples, we need to create healthy environments within our homes to start having these hard conversations honestly. Change can only come when we face this head-on"
"We dated for about two years before we got married. When we started dating we both felt that we needed to give our relationship a fair chance. Building a new relationship is hard, and when it's done in the public eye it's 10 times harder."
"I love being African and l love African women, celebrating all that we are and encompass, so I’m inviting women across the entire continent, married, divorced or widowed, to fetch their lives and enter Mrs Universe Africa."
"Let's change the narrative, change mindsets and challenge the stereotypical ideas of what beauty is ... May we change lives together and create a new narrative for women across our beautiful continent."
"Depression is real and I am opening up for the first time about abuse and depression."
"There is no formula as to how to keep yourself sane. It’s important to talk about it when you’re ready but we need to address it because people think I am the only one…the glowing people are most probably the ones hiding something."
"You need to find a mirror and ask: Do you love yourself? For you to stick around there must be a problem and it’s okay – we all have problems."
"I don’t succumb to cliques. I can’t have that kind of pressure. My friendships have to be natural or really meaningful with people who share my vision‚ especially spiritually. The energy has to feel right and I think that has helped me not lose who I am in this often chaotic industry."
"Look‚ you get frustrated when you keep going at something and it doesn’t materialise‚ but for me that is when I stop and reflect. I check what this could mean for me‚ like working on my craft‚ checking my spirit and building that hunger to succeed when I do get the role."
"If I have a baby, if God gives me the strength and the patience, I always like to raise my baby up to one year before I can start hustling - just to bond because this industry by the time you get back on the horse, it gets hectic and you may never be there as much as you would like to."
"No, personally I don't think I'm the sexiest but it's a compliment. I don't know what to say, these are overpowering comments. I'm meant to take the character to greater heights and that's exactly what I'm doing"
"Some just watch to be on the look out for the next pretty girl. It's not a bad thing. I'm getting more following on social media. It's nice to be appreciated"
"I guess they saw the tape from 2014 and remembered me. It was sort of a call back. I just did two very light scenes and was in. Scandal! is one of the shows that I've always wanted to be part of"
"That's how I got my first draw in this business. You have to stay ready to be called up any time. It happens quite a lot, that is the spontaneity of the business"
"I love adventure, risk and the opportunity to learn something new about myself and the world I live in"
"I don’t shed anything. It’s more of a case of incorporating all my life’s realities into the picture and finding a way to accept the multiple truths that exist for me"
"It’s important for us to see ourselves reflected in the entertainment industry, films, series and documentaries we watch and the books we read"
"As a survivor of GBV, I accept that telling these stories is a part of my ministry and that it’s not something I have to erase after I engage in the material"
"Soul City was an eye-opener because before we started shooting I had never been in a shack before"
"At times, I cried because I knew about poverty but when I experienced it for the first time, it became real. During takes and getting my make-up done I’d literally just start crying because the story felt so real."
"didn’t go to school for acting and I’ve never had a lesson in my life but when I was in primary and high school I was in all the plays. In Grade 9, when I was supposed to choose subjects, I wanted to take Drama but my parents were like ‘No honey, we are not paying for you to play games on a stage"
"I rarely got it right the first time. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t know why they were telling me to say things that weren’t true. The teachers would try convincing me and told me it was just acting but I didn’t know what was going on. It took me a while but every year I was in the plays and that’s when I started getting familiar with acting"
"People can say what they want, they can suggest and even strongly suggest, but at the end of the day if I choose to go with what they suggest and I live like that then I’ll be the one living like that, not them"
"I’ve learnt to always be ready because a dream can happen in five minutes just from an audition and getting casted"
"Also, when you walk into your workplace, leave all your problems and emotions at the doorstep and bring only your polite character and personality."
"You have to believe and trust in yourself and your craft. Never mess up your opportunity, show up and deliver"
"Art, to me, is what oxygen is to humans. Without art, I’d be living and existing but not alive"
"To be able to keep a character interesting every day requires a lot of new answers that you must incorporate now and then because we evolve as humans"
"It was therefore important for me to show that Aggie has grown from this facet of her life to that one. I have used the technique of bringing in different new answers and attending classes with my acting coach"
"I am proud of me, because Afrikaans is my third language and working on an Afrikaans show for the past 18 years has been nothing but amazing and challenging, as I had to make sure that I put in the work, and I do not drop the ball"
"Because I am an actress, I know how to debrief, leave the character and move on with my life"
"Remember, body positivity is not just about big girls, it’s about different shapes and sizes of our bodies and how to love ourselves best"
"Sometimes, I tell my mom that she should have written me little notes on what to expect at certain points in my life. I was just contemplating life and my personal journey"
"Choose happiness"
"This week was emotionally hard on me. From sitting on the floor in the shower naked, crying my lungs out because I felt I made bad choices in my life, that I’m not good enough, to doubting myself and basically tearing myself apart from all angles."
"The thing is we all go through such things, and you think you are the only one going through it. There are so many people going through stuff and the more we talk about it, the better"
"Obviously people are always recognising me and I am often stopped by fans but half the time I forget about the fame and go about my life as Nobuhle. It is never in my head. I just react to fans in the moment. I go with the flow"
"I woke up one day last week and I couldn’t take it any more! I was overwhelmed with traumatic incidents I encountered and all the thoughts in my head the last couple of months. I cried so much I couldn’t breathe and I had a severe headache throughout this episode"
"It was an anxiety attack, but this time I was not letting it get to me. I picked up the phone called my sister and a close friend to let them know that I’m not OK, and that simple act of calling someone was me fighting"
"I’ve been fighting depression and anxiety all my life by 'managing' and 'controlling' it, by simply blocking traumatic experiences I’ve encountered since I was a young girl. I attempted suicide twice in my life because I just did not want to be here and feel this pain any more"
"I have to go back to that little girl that got hurt and heal her. I’m happy I decided to fight this. I’m not an expert but I’m learning and I’m on a journey of healing"
"The wealth of wisdom and knowledge you exude and lovingly give to those who care to listen. Thank you for not being selfish and for giving time for little old me you are highly appreciated, now book, or kanjani Connie Ferguson"
"Don’t for one second assume I will entertain people badmouthing my bosses, so if you have something negative to say about them, don’t bring it in my mentions please. Let’s respect each other. Hands off the Fergusons,” she wrote at one point"
"Losing a child is an unimaginable ordeal, a pain that only those who have experienced it can truly comprehend"
"Sending prayers of love to everyone who suffers from depression."
"Some people just come into your life and make it all better."
" Just keep going,don’t give up on your goals and dreams"
"I'm honoured to be able to play Lilly more and more. It is a challenge that is really exciting, but also a little nerve-racking. I think that they saw the kind of person I am, a bubbly and confident person, and saw that I could do a good job"
"It's been so overwhelming because you don't expect people to know you or recognise you in the street, but they do. People are so friendly and even my own extended family treat me like a celeb. I have to tell them that I am not any different to before. It is crazy"
"I respond to people as myself. People need to know that I am not my character and we are different. That person is on screen, and this is me, and they need to deal with me"
"It’s great being back on set. We all understand that we need this job in order to make ends meet so everyone is cooperating to the rules. It is quite tricky acting with masks on because now our eyes need to tell the story, which is a great challenge"
"I am never ever ashamed. My mother taught me that you do not ever feel embarrassed by doing honest work. If it gives you money and brings you happiness, then there’s nothing to be ashamed of. It is my side hustle, I own it, and no one can tell me anything. It is a brand I am very proud of. I can never be ashamed of it"
"People do not usually get to see celebrities doing the groundwork. For them it is also an inspirational thing that ‘haybo Lilly, uyi-celebrity and you are out here in the street selling hotdogs’. And I say we all have to hustle because depending on one salary does not work"
"We literally did not have bread at home and we could not work. I had been making the hotdogs for a while and anyone who had ever had them had asked why I don’t sell them. So, backed up into a corner, I decided to just try"
"It has grown so much because of the people in the street. I understand my market. My market are the people that are in the street. I’d never be ashamed of where I get my money. Ngama never lawo"
"On the first day I made R700 and I thought ‘mmh, we can do this again’. So now we had the essentials of bread and milk and I restocked to make the hotdogs again and I have never stopped"
"To my husband, every step of this pregnancy has been easier because of how helpful and caring you are, I love you."
"I’ve been out for two years because I didn’t do anything in 2024. That’s why people see this as a return"
"I want to be discerning in what I take on, especially because I have someone looking up to me. I won’t take on aggressive roles unless they serve a purpose—whether to drive a story or make an impact. I believe South Africa needs more educational productions."
"I’m gifting myself the time lost. I’m now fully focused on exploring not just acting but other aspects of the industry."
"I love the simplicity and the sense of community. Even though my late grandmother is no longer there, being in that environment keeps me connected to my roots."
"It does make one worry about the longevity of work. We already have high unemployment in South Africa, and for artists, the struggle continues. There’s still so much we’re fighting for"
"I was huge, but zero regrets on eating my way through pregnancy. And here we are today, healthy and happy"
"I was so supported by Sean-Marco and I don’t say many men could’ve done what he did. An incredible dedication to parenting and partnership. What a man"
"Enter ‘the ring of fire’ - yes it literally feels like it’s on fire. I pushed for three contractions and my incredible partner, Sean-Marco, delivered our darling daughter into the world. His hands were the first to touch her and the only faces she looked upon were those of her family. She cried beautifully, we checked her vitals and she was happy and perfect. Everything I had wanted for her. Her perfect birth"
"This post is simply to express and share my journey it comes with zero judgment for however you choose to birth."
"It's best to not care what people think of you but social media doesn't filter peoples opinions of you, so I've heard them all. But I suppose people see me on screen and assume I'm quite glamorous when in reality I'm quite the opposite"
"Let us speak up and out against our perpetrators. No matter how small that action may seem to others. No matter how long ago it happened. Keeping quiet only protects them and leaves us drowning in pain"
"This is my child’s father. Samphiwa, who has not seen or met her. I got a protection order against him. If anything ever happens to me, never let him take her. He would repeatedly beat me up, starve and lock me up at yide ufe ndizokonwaba [die so that I can be happy]"
"By the time I escaped in January 2022, my cards were no longer mine. Outside, he was a gentleman. Opening doors etc, and back home, he had cleaned out my Nedbank accounts. Leaving me in 200k debt, which I only discovered after leaving him. I left him two properties"
"So desperate to make this work as back home I had another story… he knew. He would park outside work the whole day and wait for me. I made excuses. And I tried to understand and help. I was desperate not to be rough"
"It is so clear that so many people are oblivious to the effects of drugs, black tax, abuse, GBV, sibling rivalry in our communities. Or they choose to behave like that here on the socials"
"When I was younger I didn’t have the guts to pursue my passion, I thought I had to have a stable career since entertainment is mainly on a freelance basis."
"I am glad I have my educational background and there came a point where I had to choose between my articles in charted accounting or entertainment, and I chose the latter and, as they say, the rest is history."
"I had to develop a thick skin because being rejected after numerous auditions is difficult. I learned that you can’t get every role, not because there’s something wrong with you but because you are not what casting agents are looking for pertaining the role"
"I also assumed that everyone is nice and although there are genuine people, not everyone is what you think they are. Meaning, I had to learn to work with different people the best way I know how, without losing who I am"
"I don’t think success is a final destination. For me, success is about balance. It’s a challenge that I face because as a career-oriented woman whose married and has other caps to wear is quite hard"
"Focusing on achieving one aspect of your life without giving attention to other areas is not a healthy way to be successful, if one finds balance, they find success"
"I have learned, from my experience that being an entrepreneur is about failing. But it’s a necessary experience that gives invaluable lessons. It’s also important to have a good support system around you because failing can be demotivating. Every failure is a contributing factor to what you need to learn, no matter what you are aspiring to achieve."
"The nve of the collection is about accentuating the femininity of a woman, because if a woman looks good they feel good, and it radiates where she goes."
"You must be able to take constructive criticism and avoid having people who inflate your ego only"
"Surround yourself with people who want the best for you and who can help you see your goals at a different perspective. Have a good support system around you because we all need that."
"There’s no such thing as a free meal, meaning you have to work hard and smart for everything you want in life. Nothing comes easy, and if something doesn’t work out the first time doesn’t mean you have to abandon it."
"Mental illnesses and disorders are different and that is what people don't quite understand."
"As black people, we still have a long way to go to understand and learn more about mental illnesses. This is not to say we are people that don't want to learn or know more, but there is also the language barrier."
"Mental illnesses are different and there are no names for them in our own languages."
"We still need to learn about mental disorders and know that people who have them have a place in society. They just need to be better understood and get the help they deserve."
"Being a mom has taught me to be patient, be still and to listen. To give attention when it is needed and give time - and that I just need to calm down."
"Just throw yourself in the deep end. Whatever opportunity you get, throw yourself in."
"I calculated everything - I planned and over-planned at times and I ended up missing opportunities because I was very careful."
"I would rather lose my sense of touch. I love talking and listening to stories. So, I can't afford not to be able to talk and hear."
"I would say all things are possible and you can open any door."
"I grew up thinking there were things I was not worthy of."
"Coming from a family that wasn't well off, I though certain things were out of reach and were only for specific people."
"My passion kept me going, but sometimes passion does not pay the bills."
"I had to understand that my mistakes don't define me and that I had a life to live and dreams to fulfil."
"Rise up from the place of guilt and feeling sorry for yourself and run to your destiny."
"A child is a gift from God regardless of how it was concieved. God does not make mistakes."
"Love is eternal. People have been hurt and disappointed and because of that, have stopped believing in the existence of love. You find love from God. Learn to love yourself. Only then can you love someone else."
"I believe that love should be the foundation of every marriage and not money or anything materialistic."
"I was proud to see how a South African story was told by South Africans on our very own soil and also from our own voice. We did not have to bring an international start for this, we went with our talent which is phenomenal."
"Motherhood is such a beautiful journey. It’s so perfect. I love every bit of it. I love my baby boy to bits and pieces. Everything I do is for him and yes, I am very private. I feel like my privacy is me protecting my peace, and I have so much contentment in my little bubble, and I only come out when I have to do something and go straight back in. This is where I just shut out the noise and just live in my little bubble with my people, and that’s where my happiness lies."
"Being able to dabble between the Television, corporate and modeling industries, has afforded me the opportunity to equip myself with several skills, that have helped me tackle each project I work on with a fresh approach, and new ideas."
"As exciting as this was, on one hand, I got to experience the full acceptance and love from being treated like a South African, and on occasion, with just the mere mention of my surname, I felt what it was like to be treated like a foreigner."
"I am entering Miss South Africa with the hopes of bringing unity within the African continent. I would like to start conversations that are aimed at repairing the damage caused by xenophobia, not only in South Africa but all over the African continen"
"Family is everything to me. I’ve got four kids and I think they’re actually the reason why I grind as hard as I do. They are the reason that I wake up every morning, and that I push and wanna stage myself. That I want to do better than I did yesterday."
"I refuse to raise a man like his father. Rehab, therapy and internal healing will prevail."
"Just like any other life, you know you make it and then it’s trials and tribulations, it’s learning and unlearning"
"My journey has been beautiful because I have managed to find myself. I always choose the positive side of everything and that has worked in my favour."
"Struggling’ only for a lack of a better word. In this industry, it happens that you have work and then you don’t."
"One of the things my sister [Nomzamo Mbatha] taught me was, ‘The eye that you look at life with, is how your life will be.’ This has helped me envision my life. I think because I work hard it will not be easy for me to fall on hard times."
"People will understand, accept, and open their hearts that when we tell our stories the way they are, in the most authentic way, they come out beautifully. We should always open our hearts to learn and unlearn. This is a show that teaches us about our history. We have to appreciate our past."
"I don’t think it is ever difficult to stand up for what is right. I think that for a lot of people, it is difficult to make peace with the reactions of other people. Morally, we know what is right, but we are always consumed with the opinions of other people."
"That is a very good question! Miseducation does explore a lot of manipulation, and to some degree, yeah, that is the truth about humans. Humans are inherently selfish, and you are selfish towards your own gains and the gains of your interests, whether it is you personally, your circle, or your family"
"The one thing that you can do is maybe right the wrong when you have the opportunity to do it, but to be cancelled because someone did something before you just doesn’t make sense."
"People will always have opinions on how they experience you. I have never heard anyone on any set complain about me being a drama queen. Those who know me, know how I am. I don’t pay too much attention to negativity. Everyone experiences people differently"
"It is challenging because we are doing a lot of scenes every day and trying to make sure you are telling the story with great integrity and truth because you are telling someone's story and your story links to everyone else's character. You have a greater responsibility because everything needs to make sense. It starts with you"
"I thought I'm just an ordinary person but people see so much because we tell their stories in the most authentic way and that is why when they see me they get happy"
". I didn't think I would be able to put myself in someone else's shoes and change my perspective and look at life through someone else's lens."
"I felt the need to build my business acumen; I wanted to meet likeminded entrepreneurs, individuals who are doing different things in their spheres. I also wanted to find out how to run a business that is sustainable, not one that is launched one day and vanishes the next"
"As an entrepreneur your time is your money, and I couldn’t have my business affairs grind to a halt because I was studying,’ she says. ‘And as mother of two little boys – aged two and one – I have responsibilities on the home front that can’t be ignored, nor can they simply be moved down on my list of priorities"
"I started my degree in 2021, so it’s taken me four years to finish. The reason being that I had both my children during this time. At no point did Henley put me under pressure to finish my course at a time when it was literally an impossibility"
"I love the freedom to choose what I want to do, the freedom that comes with owning my time, while still being able to be present for my young family"
"My passion lies in cultivating a safe, loving and supportive home life for my children. One that I dreamed of as a child. In business my passion is to grow a beauty business by women for women, that offers simple beauty solutions that fit into their lifestyles. One of my biggest passions is always to finish what I start. It’s one of the key drivers that have gotten me to where I am today"
"Life is an accumulation of all our experiences. So I would tell her to explore more. To be more inquisitive. I would tell her to travel more, to immerse herself in different cultures at a time in her life where she is still unencumbered by the responsibilities of adulthood"
"Go for it! Don’t tell yourself this is not a good time because then you’ll always have an excuse to put it off. And if you’re worried about life getting in the way while you’re studying, don’t be. This is truly a flexible MBA programme that works with your goals in mind and considers your lifestyle. If you are committed, you will make it work"
"academic, political and work experience credentials combined are needed in our leadership now not apartheid struggle heroes"
"Give us a dream and a strategy to believe in followed by quality representatives based on merits to turn that vision into reality. Remember Obama's ‘Yes We Can’ campaign. I’m not American but he sold a new America to me. We really need this kind of energy in our country"
"What’s really lacking in the political parties opposing the current leading party is a lack of effective direction. I don’t know what they stand for and how they wish to achieve what they say they want to achieve. All I know is that they hate the ANC and that’s not good enough"
"South Africa weighs heavy on my heart. One of the most beautiful countries in the world — the food, weather, people, diverse cultures, parties, experience. I don’t understand how we have fallen so bad. The quality of life is horrendous! People are suffering, hustling day to day"
"It is much easier to start a business conversation when people recognise who you are. Of course there will be skeptics who question your intellectual range and ability to perform. It is how you navigate the polarities"
"It is tough gaining the trust of clients as a new entrant and as an entrepreneur; one needs to find outlets to sustain cash flow when the chips are down. Fortunately, I have had the luck of balancing my business ventures with freelance work opportunities in modelling and television"
"Pregnancy is such a sensitive thing. You need to respect it, protect it and take care of it"
"Firstly, I was never into marriage. Even at home, they were shocked when the letter came. I always said I didn’t see myself getting married. I wanted kids, but never marriage. I also don’t have a really good reference of marriage."
"I thought to myself that one day I’d like to venture into business, but I didn’t know what kind of business, so for many years I carried on singing and acting while figuring it out."
"It was worth the experience. It was so nice to see South Africa taking an interest in boxing. And I posted afterwards that this man (Nyovest) got the whole continent watching boxing"
"We aren’t friends, but there is no need to disrespect each other, we’re cool,"
"Christmas is about community. There’s no joy in doing everything by yourself"
"Encourage guests to bring something meaningful to contribute to the gathering – a family recipe, a signature dessert..."
"Music ties everything together"
"Sending guests off with something memorable is a lovely gesture"
"Whether it’s a small token or a takeaway plate, it’s a heartfelt way to keep the spirit of the day alive."
"I had to be very grounded with the fact that I am going out with this information because that’s part of the calling … It shocked me to my core, but at the same time also made me very steadfast, very strong, and to just trust in the process …"
"I feel like, in some small way, I opened the space for people to feel more comfortable about talking about that journey."
"Travel, for me, is about expanding my horizons and connecting with different cultures on a deeper level. Every destination offers a unique lens through which I learn more about the world"
"...you can’t visit Dubai without starting at the Burj Khalifa—the views from the top are simply breathtaking. But beyond the skyscrapers, I’d recommend exploring the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood to really get a sense of Dubai’s cultural roots."
"What really stands out is how Dubai celebrates its diversity, blending tradition and modernity in a way that mirrors our own cultural tapestry. There’s a lot we can learn from how the city embraces and showcases its rich heritage alongside its modern influences."
"By exploring different cultures, we not only enrich our own lives but also foster a deeper understanding of the global community."
"It’s about stepping beyond your comfort zone and discovering how much more there is out there."