Women born in the 2000s

"I became a vegetarian because I felt really bad for the animals and I love them a lot. Animals are very sweet, and I don't think that they deserve to be tortured."

"Difference is the one thing that we all have in common."

"If you're going through rough times, just stick around, cause everything has to end eventually."

"You can do anything once you put your mind to it and just follow your dreams."

"I honestly have no idea why I was chosen, I’m surprised by it. I’m excited to see where this takes me."

"When I’m told to laugh, I begin laughing. Even during filming, when I’m told to crack up, I end up being the only one who cracks up."

"I read often but, the genre I go to is mystery. I like to write my own stories but as you know, people often die in mysteries, so someone often dies in my stories. Also, I like to go to art galleries on my day offs."

"When we’re introduced to Izu in episode one, we know nothing. But I believe that moving forward, Izu will continue to learn and evolve by working alongside the protagonist, Aruto. Therefore, it’s a role where a lot is up in the air. Part of the charm is that it’s unpredictable."

"I used to love frilly lolita fashion, so I was so excited when I first saw what I would be wearing as Izu (in Kamen Rider Zero-One movie). Her shoes are interestingly shaped, and the material of the the tights and leather. I want people to appreciate all the little details. Izu maybe the admirable grown-up lady to kids, but I'm sure they'll be astonished by her strange outfit and blue eyes. She'll gradually learn more emotion so I'd like it if they could get hooked on that aspect. I hope they'd all be like "I want Izu too", or "I want to be Izu's President!"

"It’s easy to become insecure in this business. I always try to remember that there is only one of you. I have to say resilience is a huge aspect that needs to go into this type of career."

"We have this mutual respect for each other with auditions, even when we’re auditioning for the same thing. People want to believe that because we’re sisters and we do the same thing that we’re competitive. But I think at the end of the day we want what’s best for each other, so we would never get in each other’s way."

"In every bad situation, there is good and also, you don’t have to be rich to be happy. You have to try to make good things with what you have."

"Being authentic is something that has always helped me. For instance, when I am interviewing or auditioning, I don’t try to act a certain way to please the other person. Of course, I have a positive energy and I’m an extrovert, which are traits that are important to succeed in my job. If I had to give one piece of advice, I would say: don’t give up. There are times that feel more difficult, but you should never throw the towel in and listen to those who say you should do something else. In my industry, it’s about timing and chance circumstances. When I’m not selected for a part, it feels like a blow on the spot, but I believe everything happens for a reason."

"I am very happy to hear from all the girls who have already sent me messages on Instagram telling me that they started skateboarding or that their parents let them start because of a video of mine. It was the same with me: I showed a video of Leticia (Bufoni) skateboarding, then my father saw it and said: 'All right'. My story and that of many other skaters who broke this prejudice, this barrier that skateboarding was only for boys, for men. Being here and holding an Olympic medal is very important to me."

"I try to have as much fun as possible, because I am sure that if I have fun, if I let it happen naturally, it flows."

"Since I started on social networks, it has always been a dream to gain my first million followers, and now I have two?"

"I am very happy, because I was able to represent all the girls, Pamela and Leticia, who did not qualify, all the girls from skateboarding and from Brazil. To be able to realize my dream of being here and winning a medal is very gratifying. My dream and my parents' dream."

"I still can't believe it, but it looks like it was a big deal."

"I can compare myself and relate to Mutesi, the Queen of Katwe when she had international chess tournaments. She was made fun of because of her background, but that didn't stop her from doing what she loved."

"My advice to young girls who want to get into motocross or any sport is to always remember where you came from. The road is not easy, not everyone wishes the best for you or will support you. Always keep your head up and remember to never give up! Everything takes time, sacrifice, and determination. It will all be worth it in the end."

"Motocross is a sport that you barely hear about especially in Africa and few girls are exposed to it. I wanted to inspire girls out there and show them that anything is possible if you put your mind and heart to it. I have experienced gender criticism from a lot of people because of the sport that l play. I know a lot of sports that girls want to try motocross but fear to do it because of what people will say. I want to change that."

"Tanyaradzwa started racing at the age of five and is the first female to have won a motocross championship in Zimbabwe since it was started in 1957. She finished second in the 2012 championship season."

"Her commitment to giving back comes from her father who always encouraged her to help others."

"She is a brave girl. The way she is organised and determined is so amazing. She gives me a reason to empower women. It is at this age that they need to know that nothing can stop them just because they are girls. If she beats boys then nothing can stop her."

"I know that If I had other features it would have been more elaborate. It would have been better if we had had different talents and points-of-views and all that. And I think the songs that have features are amazing and they complete the songs. But for the rest of the songs, I'm very happy that they are the way they are. They are telling my story and I want people to listen to it with my voice."

"Sometimes I'm on a bus or at least when I used to still enter buses I will just have inspiration and start writing or singing."

"I always knew the name of my album was going to be 19 and dangerous, when I was younger and years before I even signed up for Marvin I mean it was going to be that."

"wrote about what I would do and how I would do it. Because I've always known it was going to happen. I've worked hard to be where I am today and I've been saying since I was young that I was going to be popular and famous. I've been Ayra Starr since I was born. I was that annoying child who would tell everyone that I was going to be a superstar."

"“Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing.”"

"“If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.”"

"“The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one’s destiny to do, and then do it.”"

"“In order to write about life first you must live it.”"

"“The big lesson in life, baby, is never be scared of anyone or anything.”"

"“There you shall find a piece of advice”"

"“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.”"

"“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”"

"“Get busy living or get busy dying.”"

"“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”"

"“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”"

"“If you hate your enemies, enemies shine”"

"“If you’re not a friend of me, enter the light”"

"“Consistency is the ultimate hack to success in life”"

"“Giving is the easiest way to building lasting wealth”"

"“Never back down, keep getting back up”"

"“If it is true, it will always endure”"

"“Your life is for many, not yours alone”"

"“Protect my energy from your bad aura”"

"“Standing where no man can put asunder”"

"“I wait and take on projects that I think can work”"

"“You just want to try a bunch of stuff, because you don’t know what’s going to be great."

"“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble; it’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so”"

"“Live for each second without hesitation.”"

"“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”"

"“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.”"

"“Life is really simple, but men insist on making it complicated.”"

"People are going to want to try things and do their own versions of things. The key is that when we stick together as Afrobeats artists and continue with our sound; it can never be diluted. Nobody is ever going to be able to do it like us."

"Because I grew up in different cities at different stages of my life, I feel like my music has almost split personalities. I learned to adapt to whatever situation I found myself in and that's what I do with my music. If you give me a funk beat, I’ll find the Afrobeats in that and give you Afropunk. I always look for and find myself and my identity in every beat.Ayrra star interview with ELLE https://www.elle.com/"

"https://dailypost.ng/2025/03/28/i-dont-like-my-songs-after-recording-ayra-starr/Daily post"

"Ayra Starr official website"

"I know it's hard to trust but love me first."

"Never let this love fade away."

"Hear to Stay’ is more than just an album, it is my life in music."

"I want my fans to listen and truly understand why music is my forever passion."

"I wanted to kill two birds with one stone. The phrase ‘Hear to Stay’ has two meanings: first, that music lovers should listen and stay connected and second, that the love from fans is what keeps us in music."

"The Move Afrika experience was very different; I gained valuable insights, connected with influential individuals, and found inspiration in the dedicated team who organized the event."

"Baby when I look at you right there, you make me warm enough and I feel like home."

"You know when I see how you love me I can do anything. Just to prove you that love is there."

"Away would you go away with me away, All time I hide this things now I don’t know why?"

"Better hold me hard, I will never ever go."

"Speechless, Darlin I am short of words, believe me, believe me Nobody's gonna take your place."

"Once I met a boy who told me that he came from Mars. And he took me by the hand and promised that we'd never part."

"Even if the Sun switched places with moon and the sky came down to the ground with us. Even if the rivers of the Earth ran dry and seas and lakes were about to die, We'd never be apart."

"See here don't be scared, You know that am in love with you, Baby listen, You never have to be afraid."

"Coz you're the only boy I know who comes from up above, So take my hand my dear I promise we will never part."

"You looked so fine in other night. Everything you do give shivers, Babe you should know you the only one."

"I'll never never leave you no. This time I promise you, Babe you should know."

"Babe all you need don't ever make me leave."

"Love me like your babe, If you ever leave me babe I'll go crazy."

"Stars are black, sky is dark, Feeling alone it's lonely night."

"You left me in pieces, I couldn't believe it."

"What happened to the promises you made and golden things you said."

"How did you brеak my heart? I still don't understand, I gave you all my trust you lеt it go to waste."

"Tell your story. I can see you are fighting yourself over it."

"If you cannot accept yourself, you live in a fog forever, trying to figure out who loves you or does not."

"Love yourself and if there is something you do not like about yourself, change it."

"Self-acceptance is a bittersweet remedy for many mental health issues that people face nowadays."

"I just realised that I could make a difference through something else instead of loathing myself."

"I had always loved writing and reading and so I decided to make a change."

"There are fewer chances of knowing if someone else truly accepts you."

"I was young and telling my story, baring myself."

"The crucial thing I learned is that writing is a process and one may have to do some rewriting and countless edits to get it to the level they want."

"I am more open to socialising with people, whereas I used to be a soft-spoken and quiet person."

"It takes a lot of conviction to release your thoughts and ideas to the world."

"The only thoughts we have control over are our own."

"I learned to be patient and collaborate with others."

"It is a journey that one never ends. I just have to keep on learning and growing in literature."

"It is hard to do, but the best things in the world do not come easily."

"Writing is not for the faint-hearted; one should be able to stand by their writing."

"I learned to be patient and tried to excel at things even when I did not want to."

"High school life taught me to choose my friends carefully and how to deal with my emotions as a teenager."

"There were things that I could not deem worthy of my time, but then with the situation there, there were some things I had to go through."

"It’s not surprising to me when someone says my work helped them."

"I have always thought of writing as healing myself that is and occasionally speak for others."

"I am trying to shake this habit of underestimating my impact."

"I didn’t plan to act; it just happened."

"By the time filming wrapped, I had fallen in love with acting. It felt natural like I had uncovered a new part of myself. That role marked the beginning of my journey, and from then on, I knew acting was something I wanted to pursue."

"I’ve learned to manage my emotions and stay focused on delivering my best performance."

"Acting has taught me resilience, preparation, and teamwork. It’s not just about individual effort—it’s about working with directors, fellow actors, and the entire crew."

"I’ve grown as both an actor and a person, and I’m grateful for every step of this journey. I’m excited to see where it takes me next."

"It won’t be easy, but with hard work and focus, success is possible"

"Follow your dreams—they’re worth it"

"I am so excited that I played well on my debut at the tournament because the wicket I bowled was from the captain of the opponent club,"

"It all comes one step at a time, but in the end, it happens."

"I made ‘Leaders of Tomorrow’ with the aim to draw public attention in a world-class standard to the challenges that children face in this part of the world, especially in a standard that meets the objectives of the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF)."

"I used to hurry shots, but nothing is rushing me anymore because they (the opponents) still believe I can't shoot. That’s something I worked on in the summer."

"It’s like the feeling when you work so hard for something and you finally achieve it. It feels like whew."

"We were able to make them take hard shots, and take away what they wanted to do."

"I’ve just been very calm, and catching the ball and looking."

"I had wanted this [51 seconds] and to race in this stadium (London) for so long so to do so well in this atmosphere…I couldn’t be happier...I’d been feeling great in training and that I could not only run 51 but do it in my last competition before Budapest is great. I have all the information I think we need in what we can do better – now it’s time to work hard and get the last things perfect."

"I’d been feeling great in training and that I could not only run 51 but do it in my last competition before Budapest is great. I have all the information I think we need in what we can do better – now it’s time to work hard and get the last things perfect."

"Changing my stride pattern is one of the biggest changes I will make in my career. I like the challenge. I knew it would be tough but I really like the feel of the 14 strides compared to 15 so I think we made a really good decision."

"Everyone brings their A game to the championships and I hope to do the same."

"People talking behind your back are behind you for a reason."

"People think that it's true and real that Maame Serwaa can be a witch because of the way I act but all I can say is that it is never true."

"The movies are edited to add a lot more to it but when it comes to actions I don't really want people to judge me again based on what I do in movies."

"I have people approaching me and telling me how badly I acted in a movie because they did not like the role I played whiles some love my acting and even encourage me to do better."

"When it comes to my real life, I'm different from how I act in movies so they shouldn't judge me based on what I do in movies."

"I felt like I needed to hit through the court"

"But obviously, in the wind, it's tough to be as aggressive as you want, because the bounces are weird and the ball was moving. So I'm glad I made that adjustment and didn't get too frustrated when I missed. You pay the price for hopefully a good reward."

"Against Aryna it's never easy. I'm just going to do my best and focus on myself and what I want to do on court. We usually have these matches that are really exciting and really tough, both mentally and physically."

"A lot of people will say don't compare, but I have never met anybody that doesn't – it's just a normal human thing that we do."

"Especially being a young Black girl, we are often overlooked. We don't get the respect that we should get when it comes to our hard work and changing the narrative. At times you can feel it and you just have to remember what you bring to the table. At some point, you can't care what other people think. All we can do is live for ourselves because we are the only people that we know at the end of the day."

"There is no limit to what you can reach and what you can strive for."

"I am so blessed to be a part of a generation like this because we are constantly raising the bar and pushing the boundaries of what we can do. Keep striving to do what you wanna do – it's your life."

"Through the process of her opening up, she realized that maybe it is a possibility, and maybe she does have that side of her that she wants to see what that’s about"

"We both wanted everything to feel grounded and really raw. The first time I met Ezekiel, I was like, ‘Yeah, this makes sense. He's perfect for this role.’ So, this is a great feature debut for him, and he really knocks it out of the park."

"Back in the village, when I used to play with my older brothers [she is the youngest of six children] I used to play in goal, to avoid them injuring me on the field."

"The most difficult thing for me was the language. But the club used to check on me to see how I was doing."

"I qamt to be one of tge best goalkeepers ik tye world."

"”I just want to use this great opportunity to say a very great thank you to the organisers and also for remembering the female goalkeeper this year,”"

"I never believed that at 18, I would be playing at the senior World Cup, that I would make the team, that I would even be in the Super Falcons. I can’t explain the feeling."

"I’ve missed Football, training, I am missing many things on the pitch. I’m praying for mercy, God should just have mercy on Nigeria and let us start our game like let us have a Corona virus free time for everyone in the world"

"I couldn’t wait to pursue my love of singing again. Music helped me through a lot in the hospital, and it seemed like I was far away from my troubles when I was singing or listening to music."

"You put so much time and effort into such a small amount of time,but all that amount of time is worth so much"

"At that moment, it was like a ray of light came over me, and I knew that I was going to live"

"As days pass, you start to wonder when that one hero will come and save you, keep holding out for that hero, keep pushing forward, never lose hope, and find something you enjoy and use that as your light."

"Am happy about the whole event as my family and friends are excited too. I am very thankful to God and Mrs Ulaeto, my English teacher who discovered me. She was the one who handed me to coach Effiong Ibok who in inturn left me under the professional training of coach Daniel Umoette. I also appreciate Mrs Janet Bassey, secretary of track and field in Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Youths and Sports. I thank all my teammates too as well as everyone that encouraged me."

"It was very tough because of the weather. This is just the beginning of great things in my career. My coach and I really worked hard on this. I’m so excited; it would only get better. Coming here to make so much impact makes me feel so happy. It means more hard work, but the future is so bright."

"I am happy that things are working out well and I thank God for the progress made so far. I come from a riverine area in Ibeno local government area where I used to help my parents to catch crayfish. I am equally grateful to my parents and my coaches who are keeping me on my toes. I look forward to having a successful career in athletics."

"I think that was 2016 during inter-house sports, she was in Yellow House. I just looked at her and said can this one do anything? But she surprised everybody, I gave her the name ‘Kenya’ when I saw her sprinting legs. I told her you are going places."

"Imaobong you have done well, the governor is proud of you, the whole state is proud of you and we are happy that you have not disappointed us. As you are leaving for the United States, please do not lose focus, trust God, work harder and do the best you can at all times."

"I feel so elated, how I wish I could see her with my eyes now, oh how I will hug her. I told her to trust God for everything, and God is with her. Am so elated."

"The duo of Imaobong Nse Uko (400m) and Udodi Onwuzurike (200m) won individual gold medals while the 4x400m mixed and the women’s relay teams also won our first ever relay gold medals at the Championships."

"I started coaching her (Imaobong) in 2017. That was before the National Sports Festival in Abuja. As a matter of fact, she was discovered during the Akwa Ibom Youth Games and I have been coaching her since then. I must appreciate her parents who were gracious enough to release her to us. We were almost strangers then but they allowed her to live with the secretary of Akwa Ibom sports commission who also acted as her godmother. Training her was not easy because she was going to school. While I coached others in the day, I coached her in the evening whenever she returned from school."

"Everything has its sacrifices, but some things are worth taking the leap for."

"It’s a really special show about family - and how the suicide of a father and friend shapes and changes the lives of a group of friends. The show itself deals a lot with mental health and the topics most people struggle with in silence, but really shows how love and support helps heal people."

"I am super energetic and quirky. We are both impatient and like for things to happen quick! I would say we are both fearless, care about siblings and are always looking to have fun and be with friends and family."

"No one’s going to judge you – it’s a community. Being in a park full of guys is not bad, it’s not scary. We’re all human. Get a skateboard, get a helmet and go. You’re good. You got it."

"So grateful to God to walk Life’s Journey With You."

"I think the most surprising thing about me is that I play the drums. Many people wouldn’t expect it, but it's something I genuinely enjoy."

"I have officially resigned from Parliament, and I would like to thank the leadership of the PA. I look forward to growing the PA forever,”"

"The voices of young people in Parliament are essential for South Africa’s future. Political parties must go beyond symbolic representation and equip young MPs with the tools and mentorship they need to succeed,”"

"It would be dangerous to give them roles like Cabinet portfolios. Being in the National Assembly, it could be more like training to understand the challenges and how they are solved"

"Our young people are uninformed and know only what they’ve been exposed to, so we are already making it a priority to keep young people informed and provide the necessary skills and mentorship for every young person to participate in politics."

"I wanted to create something that will be relatable among my Gen Z fans and I hope resonates with anyone who listens."

"I was bullied a lot because I was one of the youngest. To be honest, I’m not sure why I was bullied."

"“I didn’t realise I could sing, my mom did. She was the one that was very forward with my career when I wasn’t passionate about it."

"It's a fantastic opportunity to showcase our team’s talent and demonstrate our national prowess."

"I always try to perfect my game so that people can say she can do it all, not she could be able to do it."

"“But I believed that I could make it, and to make it and grab that gold medal, I’m proud,”"

"“I did dream of this, I’ve been working so hard for this. We have a long season ahead and I believe there’s still more to come.”"

"“The world hasn't really recognised me. The world doesn't really know me that well because I haven't run that sub-1:58 but I know I'm going to do it,”"

"“I'll be all over social media and that is what I want. I haven't been there, according to me. I don't have that exposure. In Morocco, I will make some miracles happen. I'm ready.”"

"“I feel like right now I have that experience whereby I know in the heat they take the top three. And in the semis that's where you have to push yourself. That's your final, actually,”"

"“You have to put yourself in the top two. This year we have the Olympics and now I have a goal. My goal is to be in the final. Like my coach says, anything can happen once you are in the final.”"

"“I am from this village called Medingen. It's a dusty place, to be honest. There's no track. There's no grass. There's nothing, there is just dust everywhere,”"

"“So, it was challenging. I started running when I was doing physical education in grade four. And that's where I thought, ‘Let me just try this thing of running. Let me see where I can go. Then I just started running and we started visiting other schools.”"

"“The goal for this year is to run 1:56. I didn’t tell the coach yet. But that's my goal and I know I'm going to do it. I wrote it in my diary. I just have to keep consistent in my training,""

"I don’t ever compromise myself, so every win feels that much more enjoyable"

"You need to be your number one fan! You can’t depend on anyone else to lift you or carry you to your dreams"

"Chess is a game of strategy that involves planning and anticipating your opponent’s moves. That’s how I approach my career"

"You always have to see the bigger picture. I stayed focused because it’s innate in me; it’s how I am, why I love chess, how I grew my social platform and why I’m in it for the long run"

"My manager and team approach my career strategy in the same way, so I’ve surrounded myself with like-minded people who think ahead and put my brand equity first"

"I have moments now and again when it sinks in. I value those, but I know there’s so much work to do and I’m only getting started"

"It’s almost like a dream, but I try not to live in that feeling as I have to work very hard to keep winning."

"It meant a lot to me to see that many people embrace me for who I am. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t embraced and loved myself."

"People always laugh at the fact that I comment on my own videos, but I couldn’t say it more clearly: I’M MY BIGGEST FAN"

"They finally see the magnitude of what my career has become and where it’s going. Having them on board means a lot to me – even though they don’t think I’m funny"

"I initially made my videos to bring joy to myself. I would make them and I'd think, I am so funny! I would watch the videos and just laugh!"

"I wouldn't care if other people found them funny or not. Turns out, the videos have also brought other people joy, and I'm so happy they did"

"I definitely tend to always go with my gut and trust my intuition"

"When you're playing chess, it's all about the long game. And if your opponent is equally as clever as you, you have to be really clever in everything you do. Even if the brand or company approaching you makes it seem like it's something you need or something you want — that's when the end game comes in"

"It's big money, but I know that bigger opportunities are on the way and I'd rather wait than jump on what's coming in right now. So I'm thinking about the long term. It definitely requires patience and hard work, and being consistent and believing in yourself"

"The fact that people told me I couldn't do it — I think that's what drives me so much. Maybe it’s because I'm dark-skinned or I'm African, they say that I can't achieve certain things, and I'm like, okay, we're gonna see about that — and I just go for everything headstrong"

"Chance favors the prepared mind, and opportunity favors the bold. Because I have this opportunity and so many people would say it's luck, but I believe there is a very thin line between luck and opportunity. I feel like there’s also quite a number of people who say, Oh you know, I'm famous now, I'm untouchable. You always need to know where your head is at and I feel like you also need to carry yourself with some type of humility. Being in such a space should humble you — strangers go out of their way to support you, so you should be so incredibly grateful"

"I was actually very calm and just focused on what I had to do and how I had to execute the race, so I think that was a really good thing – learning how to manage the nerves."

"Sometimes there are setbacks, and you just have to sit back and see what needs to be done to ensure you get where you need to be and achieve what you want."

"I really am living my dream at the moment, and am just keeping focused on enjoying the journey and taking it one moment at a time."

"It’s a big step up. The hard work is only starting now, and I love all the new challenges coming my way and I am learning a lot from each challenge."

"Never give up! Your time will come, and some days will be hard, but the good days will be unforgettable."

"She’s had to compete against and chase swimmers, faster and older than her for her whole career and it’s never fazed her. That’s a major reason why she’s where she is today and why she’s so comfortable punching above her weight",Da Ponte"

"My story started in Auckland, New Zealand, where I discovered my love for dance at a studio in Takanini called Stewart Dance Studios. As a kid, I was very involved in competition dance, winning many national titles before diving into the professional dance world that Auckland City has to offer. In New Zealand, I danced as a dancer on the SkyCity Cheer Team and was on Dancing with the Stars New Zealand before making the move in 2018 to Los Angeles to attend AMDA College of the Performing Arts. After graduating AMDA in 2020 with my Associates in Dance Theatre, I made the move to Dallas, TX, where I danced for Zion Dance Project, Urban Performing company, and The RevCrew. I also started teaching and choreographing at Studio B Dallas and Frisco Dance Studio. At the end of last year, I made the move to New York City to train and audition more in the dance world; however, I now basically live between New York City and Dallas as I come back once a month to choreograph and teach for Studio B Dallas as well as to perform at events throughout the year."

"My road hasn’t been that smooth, but it also hasn’t been too difficult either. I would say my biggest struggle would be juggling my teaching/choreographing with my life as a dancer. I love to dance, and I love to teach, and although these seem to go hand in hand, there can also be many conflicts so I am constantly trying to juggle what one I want to prioritize more. At this stage in my life, I would like to first dance more than choreograph and teach as my body is not young forever. However, teaching and choreographing can tend to pay more than dance gigs, so that can be a big factor to my decisions as well."

"I am a dancer, choreographer, and teacher trained in Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Ballet. I would say as a dancer and performer, the main styles that I specialize in would be Hip Hop and Jazz. As a teacher and choreographer, I mainly teach Jazz, Contemporary, and Hip Hop but mainly choreograph Jazz and Contemporary. As a dancer, what sets me apart is that I am very committed to any role given me, and I love to rise above challenges that may seem impossible. As a teacher, I believe that repetition is important; I will quite often give my students various exercises that we will work on each week so that they can master certain skills and really get a good foundation of each style. As a choreographer, I feel like I can cater my choreography to any level of dancer to best showcase their talents and abilities whilst also giving them a challenge to help them grow as a dancer. When I am choreographing group dances, I also love to play around with formation changes, and any of my students could tell you that they are never in one formation for too long. As a Choreographer, I am proud of all the pieces that I have choreographed for Studio B Dallas, and as a dancer, one highlight would be my recent work dancing with Metropolis Productions for the Mary Kay Seminar that was just in Dallas, celebrating 60 years."

"I’m always interested in working with new people! You can email me – [email protected], follow me on Instagram @emma.morris, and honestly, a simple like, save, or share of my profile or dance videos goes a long way!"

"I wanted to be a basketball player. Honestly, there is no specific reason to why I chose basketball, it just seemed like a really cool and clean game to me. I wouldn’t say it was always my dream because I barely knew it in my young age"

"We just came in ready. We lost to Angola and it’s not because they were better than us, but we made a lot of mistakes and that’s like, as Coach said, I just learned from my mistakes, and last game I had 8 turnovers, That’s a lot for a guard. I’m not supposed to have 8 turnovers. So, I learned from it and now I got to do the best for the team and just get a win one minute at a time."

"People are going to talk regardless, but we just learn to block the haters. We just don’t let that energy affect us. And that’s what I said like nobody believed in this. They say, we qualified because we’re the host team and really we just know we’re the underdogs and we got to come out here and just prove people wrong."

"The technology industry changes rapidly, and it’s always in your best interest to have a growth mindset to learn new tools/methods and also; relearn things you already know."

"I believe what makes an incredible engineer is the ability to adapt to solving problems no matter the form."

"I always look for new things to try out and also new territories to explore in life. What’s similar across all the things I do is VALUE."

"The ability to empower people and create an impact in my industry is what drives me. If I learn a new skill today, I would either speak at a conference on that topic, create videos, or even write a book about it."

"Look at women doing amazing things ahead of you, and see them as role models. It’s only a matter of time before you get to where they are, or where you'd like to be."

"And this doesn’t only concern Aleksei Navalny. Where are last year’s laureates – the Belarusian opposition – now? Mostly in prison. Where is the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Lui Xiaobo? He died in prison."

"Why is it so hard to free from captivity those who are fighting for human rights? Why are they still thrown in jail, not only all over the world, but in European – geographically European – countries in the 21st century?"

"No matter how many people try to deceive themselves, hoping that another madman who clings to power will behave decently in response to concessions and flirtations, it will never happen."

"The very essence of authoritarian power involves a constant increase in bets, an increase in aggression, and the search for new enemies."

"We, the citizens, will decide who is going to rule our country and for how long."

"You have to show yourself to the people and not just get yourself nominated as a candidate and then not campaign anymore. People have to be able to see who you are and the values that you represent."

"The fact that they blindly follow orders to kill a person just because he doesn’t agree with the way our state works – that shows that Putin fears my father. And that my father is doing something right! I do fear for his life, but it also means: He is doing something right."

"It was clear: He [Alexei Navalny] doesn’t run away from his problems."

"The sky is the limit, and nothing can stand in your way. If God says this is your future and your destiny, who's the person next door to say anything?"

"Whenever there was something to do with being on stage at school, I always wanted to find myself in those spaces."

"Don’t let fear drive the way you go about living your life. To be honest, you have nothing to lose."

"Put yourself out there, as uncomfortable as it may be. Do your research too. Always use the resources that you have in front of you. There’s no harm in trying."

"The knowledge that I can compete at this level was just such a boost and for me the biggest achievement of my life. Look, no prop scrums alone, so it is not about me, but it was great to force my opponent to concede penalties and for our forwards to enjoy dominance over a highly-rated French pack."

"And I want to assist in mauls, make tackles, and carry the ball. The nice thing about all of that is that I can do so with my team and when we play together, we get things done."

"I can an really look back at this day for a long time. Here I was, being part of the opening match of the World Cup and when the action began, I felt at home."

"But because of my body shape, people kept saying, ‘you need to play, you need to play’. I was 18. I just thought, ‘why not’. So I tried. And the rest is history."

"But I want to tell girls that it’s OK to look how you look. I am grateful for my strength. I use my strength to push for my country. Why would I not be proud of that?"

"If I don’t keep winning penalties then someone else will come and take my position. And if I lose my position, if I lose my contract, then my family won’t eat. I can’t let that happen"

"I’ll keep pushing hard. For my family and for South Africa. For all young girls who want to play rugby. Ya, I can say that I’ll always keep pushing"

"I am glad that I am bringing hope to young women and young girls that anything is possible, and there’s no such thing as you are dreaming too big or dreaming too small. If you strive to get there one day, I just feel like anything is possible, so I am really glad that I could be a role model for the young girls and women."

"Give it a go, give it a chance! Don’t hesitate if you feel like you want to play rugby, and it’s something you enjoy doing, keep on doing it"

"I think women’s rugby is definitely growing in South Africa, and there will be light at the end of the tunnel at the end of the day, so keep on dreaming big."

"Go to the field, go play touchies in the street. It’s all the little things that matter in the day, if we don’t give up and keep on pushing. No one said it’s gonna be easy, but when you think about it, it’s not even that hard, if you are actually doing stuff with passion."

"It means a lot that I’m a role model to many young girls and women. I remember when I was young, I looked up to people, and I am glad I could now be someone that people could look up to."

"For me, in my own area, there are many things happening, like gangsterism, and the kids are looking up to the fact that they can become a gangster one day, and the wrong things"

"I literally feel like we are capable, as South African female rugby players. I don’t think there would be a country that could stop us from getting a Cup, but obviously, we must think of the small blocks towards it, and not just jump through the main thing. That’s an inspiration to bring the cup home."

"If ever, like, I get the opportunity to go to a World Cup again, that is something I would really want to do, just to be part of a group that would bring a cup home."

"When I go there, I would thank those who helped me along the way, gave guidance and advice and just supported me in chasing my dream. It is just sinking in, how much it means if people put their trust in you and you can reward them"

"The folks there actually joked that I will become the town's first Springbok and now it has happened"

"I was in tears last year for not being called onto the field, but on Sunday, those memories were wiped out when I finally ran onto the field. Suddenly, all the blood, sweat and tears made sense to me.Looking back now, it actually made me stronger and more determined to prove that I can play at this level."

"The fact that I benched last year helped a bit with the emotions when we sang the anthem actually – I knew what was coming"

"It was such a great feeling and relief when I ran onto the field.By that time, I was in the game and really expressing and enjoying myself. The crowd was hectic, but soon I hardly noticed them as I was in the game."

"Without Father Gérard and Mr Hayne Clarke, I would not have been here, there is no doubt in my mind..I was abandoned as a baby and they took me in and became my family and the orphanage my home and my life."

"I can honestly say that rugby has given me everything I could have ever dreamed for, and for me to be playing for the Springbok Women tomorrow is almost surreal, but very true. Dreams really come true, and rugby made that happen for me."

"When I played in my first game, with the encouragement of Father Gérard and Mr Clarke, I immediately felt the sense of belonging"

"I was at ease with the sport from the start and from then on, rugby became a very important aspect of my life. When I first made the Sharks team, I realised what rugby could mean for me and started to really invest back into the game."

"I was offered a scholarship at university because of rugby and that opened even more doors for me. And look where I am now."

"That first year was tough for me, I was young and it was tough mentally, as I was suddenly playing amongst senior players"

"In fact, at one stage that year I almost quit, but I realised that criticism towards me was not personal, but to improve as a player"

"I am a quiet person, but was told that I had to become more forceful in communicating if I wanted to succeed on the field of play. Once I understood not to take it personally and to actually do that, I became a better player"

"It made me realise that I was noticed by the national coaches and the fire to one day play for the Springbok Women was burning bright after that"

"There were so many emotions and thank yous that flooded me, It will be such a special occasion for me, but emotions aside, I have a job to do out there"

".I don’t know if I will miss touch or drop a high ball, but what I do know is that I will leave nothing out there. I will play my heart out on that field, in honour of all who made this possible."

"Making my Springbok Women debut last year was an absolute dream come true! It was a moment I had worked towards for years, and to finally wear the green and gold jersey was an incredible honour."

"My immediate goals are to absorb as much as I can from the coaches, senior players, and the team’s culture. I want to develop a deeper understanding of the team’s playing style, strategies, and expectations."

"Even though women’s rugby is becoming more and more popular, there is still a big support and sponsorship imbalance. It is more difficult for female athletes to find support since many potential sponsors give preference to men’s sport."

"Having a sponsor would offer inspiration and emotional support. It would increase my confidence and motivation to succeed to know that someone thinks highly of me and my skills."

"As a young athlete, I think there are a few essential aspects that can improve our prospects of getting sponsorship. Professional online presence so employers can more easily locate and evaluate us. When we have a great website and social media profiles that highlight our accomplishments, abilities, and personalities (it can work in our favour)."

"We also need to be clear on our goals and vision. As well as outlining our present and future goals, both on and off the pitch. That will show our determination, drive, and success potential. Unique value proposition by emphasising our unique promoting points, such as our abilities, character, or community service, helps companies see how supporting us will enhance their brand."

"Although there have been notable advancements in women’s sport sponsorship, more work remains until women’s sports are on level with men’s sports. I think the following actions can be made to guarantee that more funds are allocated to supporting female athletes."

"Increased internet and television coverage of women’s sports can draw in new sponsors, viewers, and sources of income. It is important to encourage sponsors to develop focused advertising strategies that highlight the distinctive qualities and experiences of female athletes"

"Organisations ought to launch targeted campaigns and programs aimed at assisting female athletes and women’s sports. Governments as well as companies can fund grassroots initiatives, top athlete development, and the infrastructure of women’s sports. The idea that women’s sports are truly less important or marketable must be eliminated."

"My goal is to build myself as a reliable player and solidify my spot on the national squad. Make myself a consistent player and join the team for the 2025 World Cup."

"So starting from the domestic games, coming into national games, I’ve just been determined to keep my game on point and grow so much from it. I then took motivation from my teammates and learned from them"

"I’m one of the youngest players in this team. So I’m always talking with the most experienced player.So staying with them in the same environment just motivates me. And then the thing that they say to me is something that motivates a person. So I think that’s also the thing that they advise me on.That’s the thing that keeps me going"

"I believe in anti-racism so much because I believe it's at the core of us solving so many other social issues 12 May, 2025"

"The minute we lose the ability to see the humanity in the next person that looks different from you—that's when racism is planted into the fibre of society, and that's when we desensitize ourselves to the importance of existing in a just and equitable world with people that look different from us"

"As much as the apartheid regime has no longer been constitutionalised, racism hasn't disappeared"

"I first-hand got to see racism from my identity not being welcomed or understood"

"The generation of Nelson Mandela brought political emancipation. But political emancipation doesn't exist without economic and mental emancipation"

"Laws can change, but people still have to change"

"I've realised that a big part of fighting racism deals with the mind — and the only way to unlock and liberate the mind is through access to knowledge"

"the oppressed — Black people, people of colour — need to get to a point where they take themselves out of their own mental prison and liberate their minds"

"I believe that books play a big role, especially books by Africans, in seeing representation, seeing yourself being written up in a positive light, seeing your existence reflected in the pages of literature"

"One of the things that the apartheid regime was very successful at was making all schools in rural areas and townships environments in which it's difficult to come out and be a leader in society"

"I believe that if we can work on empowering those schools, we'll definitely be doing a huge job in society"

"Poverty is a manmade crisis"

"The economy in South Africa is still divided, and wealth and poverty have opposite faces"

"The fight against racism is a fight for the betterment of all of humanity, because it determines how we will live amongst each other, and how resources will be shared"

"Young people make up a majority of the global population, but they are still not included in building a world that they are going to inherit"

"I still lived in a world where every last bit of your life was determined by your race: what kind of opportunities you're going to be exposed to, the kind of school you'll go to, the environment you’ll live in. My entire world still was determined on the basis of race."

"One of the things that made me unable to escape activism was that growing up, I experienced a huge amount of anti-Blackness, which I became very aware of just being in a family with both my parents of colour"

"I realised that you have one of two choices: either you try to speak up and see what the effects of speaking up will be, or you die in silence over the silent war you constantly find yourself in"

"I chose to speak up because I felt it was an injustice of its own for me to see the reality of the institution and still choose to be silent."

"I chose to be an activist because I don't want a generation of young South Africans to still be having the same kind of conversations about systemic and institutional racism 30 years from now"

"I was 13, 14 years old, a child basically, [and] I was receiving death threats from old white adults"

"we spoke up about something we were always taught to be silent about"

"I work in these spaces where you're constantly speaking up and you’re always pouring into other people's cups and your cup is hardly poured into"

"Black children see the diversity of the world around them and understand that just because someone doesn't look like them, that doesn't make them inferior"

"The most urgent thing that needs to happen to ensure that education is used as a tool to change the world is firstly, it needs to be accessible"

"We need to ensure that previously poorly funded schools aren't continuing to be disadvantaged now"

"So, in my journey of finding my voice to speak up against racism I began to decolonise my mind, unlocking the shackles, and unlearning the belief of looking at Eurocentric beauty as the standard for beauty"

"I then began to see my hair as not just hair but a central core element of identity"

"asking me to change my hair is like asking me to erase my blackness and you cannot separate the two"

"I hope that when children pick up my book it empowers them to feel proud of their existence and their identity and it ultimately empowers their existence and enables them to proudly be themselves"

"Your greatest power lies in proudly being yourself and that awakens a new level of consciousness"

"Societal beauty standards largely impact children’s self-esteem especially in a world where children are exposed to social media without any boundaries or limitations"

"Representation plays a huge role in prompting acceptance and inclusivity, as well as decolonising what is already represented out there, Whether It Be In Books, media outlets, or television"

"As long as we have not won the war on racism in this country, we have not won the war on hair policies"

"The hair policy is a symptom of a greater diagnosis of institutionalised racism and systemic racism"

"Too many young people are over-mentored and underfunded"

"I believe young people are not as engaged in various aspects of activism, primarily because of being excluded"

"I hope that my activism leaves a trail of impact by Empowering more people to feel empowered to see the power in their voices and use their voices to effect change around them"

"There was a pencil test [during the apartheid in South Africa],” she said. “If a pencil was put into your hair and when you shook your head, it did not slide out, you would pass for coloured, if it stayed inside you would be considered Black"

"I was being forced to assimilate to whiteness and being forced to assimilate to an image that I did not fit into"

"You can't separate any expression of Black hair from Black identity, especially because for Black people it's more than just hair"

"I’ve always kept that close to my heart, understanding that everything I do is not just for me but for those who came before me who walked so I could fly, who did not have the means to do what I do but ensured that I would"

"You don’t need to justify your place, you are valid and so is your place here"

"You are capable of being great regardless of anything anyone says."

"I would like to see a South Africa where young people and the tools to empower them — such as education, literacy and employment — are prioritised"

"The most important message is that bravery doesn't have a size or age"

"You don't have to be a famous person person to bring about change in the world or in a community"

"Before 2016, i was already someone shaped by my experiences and beliefs, preparing me for the moment I finally stood up for myself"

"Bravery can co-exist with fear"

"Fear, anxiety, self doubt is normal. But at the end of the day, bravery is doing it regardless."

"Asking me to change my hair is like asking me to erase my blackness"

"I believe no young person should abandon their childhood to fight struggles that should have been fought decades ago"

"My activism has thrust me into the public domain from a tender young age, and ultimately I spent all my teenage years growing up directly in the public eye, which at times became difficult as I had to grow up much quicker than my years in order to navigate public commentary and critique"

"the 1956 march continues to remain a “source of inspiration for me on the power that women’s voices hold and a source of inspiration to continue advocating for justice and human rights."

"A huge part of my activism has been to empower people to use their own voices to change the world and their circumstances"

"The world is changed by ordinary people that have the audacity to use their voices for change"

"I strongly believe that seeing yourself represented in the pages of books empowers one’s existence"

"I wanted to ensure that no other Black child that comes after me should ever experience this severe form of intimidation"

"Even in communities of colour, there is a lot of anti-blackness"

"Gender-based violence isn't only physical, there's TGBV (Technology-Facilitated Gender Based Violence) and a lot of it starts on social media."

"When you wear your Afro out, you are already starting your politics"

"Small acts begin in your home"

"[My conviction] is inspired by a deep desire for change and justice, and the fact that as young South African people we are defined as ‘Born-Free’, but have never had a chance to interrogate freedom and ask questions about our democracy"

"We’re not seeing enough young people at the decision-making table"

"When we demand change for the future that we’re going to inherit, we’re told we’re overly radical or that people at the [decision-making] table speak for us"

"Activism is playing such a big role in shaping the future. It’s giving young people and marginalised communities a voice to define their future,"

"South Africa is a perfect example of how destructive reform is as opposed to abolition"

"Young people also belong where policies are being drafted, where policies are being made"

"Stay genuine to your cause, constantly ensure that you listen"

"So I believe that there is power in choosing to select your thoughts in the same manner that you select clothing in the morning"

"take a seat, look at how far you've come, congratulate yourself and work on bettering yourself in whatever skills you have because we will never get a time like this ever again"

"I do not like being labelled as a born-free because I've always questioned whether the freedom is a reality"

"My activism located me at a time when I couldn’t reject it due to the conditions"

"I want a young black girl child to understand her capabilities are not limited by her physical appearance but are enhanced when she is confident and owning who she is"

"Every day, every month and every season teams change, and it is going to be hard, but we have to fix ourselves instead of looking at other teams, and we have to work hard to achieve what we want. So far, we are doing well, we have frustrations here and there, like mistakes on the field and we have to fix those – it’s difficult but we are working hard,"

"We are more focused on what we need to be doing on the day when the Ghana game comes, and we are really working on that. We are focused on ourselves and not stressed about other teams, and we just need to make sure that we do (on the field) what we train"

"So many people look up to us because of where we come from."

"It is important that they know that one has to work really hard to get what you want. Honestly, success does not really fall from the sky. You need to wake up early."

"Gugulethu is like a community, like a school. You learn a lot from the people there. They are all parents to us. If you are able to take all the lessons from them then we can succeed. That is the weapon to achieve our goals."

"I’m adapting to the new weather and the food here in China"

"Competition for places is high and the league is tough so I just need to work hard to keep up with the competition"

"It’s God’s time. I have been praying for this opportunity to play professional football outside Zambia for about 4-5 years and finally God has allowed it"

"I feel good to be back on the pitch"

"I feel even better about scoring two goals on my return to the Red Arrows squad. For the remaining matches, my personal target is to score 10 goals"

"I just have to push so that my team can finish the league in a good position"

"Now that I have started playing, I just have to push harder to get back to the national team"

"I still want to play professional football outside the country. After all is done and I am back on the pitch, signing for a good team outside Zambia is one of my targets"

"Red Arrows has helped to improve my performances. The coaches have been encouraging me to work hard, and before we came here, they told me to work hard, and now I am scoring goals"

"We didn’t underrate Malawi; we came into the same with one team spirit, which has carried us through to the final of the tournament"

"It was a hard-fought game from start to finish. We knew it was not going to be easy, and the University of Fort Hare challenged us, especially in the first half. I honestly feel we could have scored more goals — we created some good chances but just lacked that final touch at times."

"What made the difference today was our perseverance. We worked hard for each other, stayed composed, and stuck to the game plan. We implemented everything we had practiced throughout the week, and that helped us maintain our structure under pressure"

"As defenders, we take great pride in protecting our goal, and the fact that we have not conceded all season is something we work extremely hard for in training. Every player—from the forwards pressing high to the goalkeeper—contributes to that defensive effort."

"I feel we did very well as a team, especially with our build-up to the game. We worked hard in training to sharpen our combinations and it was fulfilling to see several of the ideas we practiced come to life today. It was an intense match, but we kept our focus from start to finish"

"The coaching team was very clear in their instructions, and we all played with purpose and confidence. We are growing in every match and this result shows what we can achieve when we stay united and disciplined."

"The game was eventful and everything we planned and prepared for throughout the week resulted in a good win for us. We are so happy with how we managed the game from the first whistle to the last"

"Our defensive structure was solid and we capitalized on their weaknesses at key moments. The communication between the backline, midfield and attack was excellent and that made it easier to control the tempo."

"I am also very happy with the clean sheet—it’s something we take pride in as a team. We are now looking forward to the next game with confidence and belief."

"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."

"Leadership involves responsibility. I want to be an ambassador with deep purpose and a voice that reflects this country. I intend to take EYA very seriously during the coming year of my reign and ensure that everything I and my fellow finalists do, is anchored in impact and can be measured when I hand over"

"I’ve carried so many of you guys with me and for me it really is a testament of intentional leadership and how if you really wanna see change within the systems that you step in, you need to just start somewhere"

"My heart is so incredibly full. If I’m being completely honest it feels like I’ve won the World Cup. That’s the best way I can explain it"

"It feels like I’ve won the World Cup, but I walk - I was gonna say I walk out of this, but really I walk into this as a completely different woman. But I still carry my old self into it"

"I want you guys to see the kind of courage that it takes, the kind of thought and the mindset it takes and how sometimes you really just have to be willing to bet on yourself to be able to take it like one step further"

"It’s still sinking in. I am surrounded by community and so incredibly honoured. I plan to continue the work I have already started"

"But now with the support and guidance from Miss South Africa and Empower Youth Africa, we are able to do it on a bigger scale with more resources. I am so incredibly humbled"

"Standing on that stage, I felt such gratitude. Not just for the crown, but for the journey that led me to that moment. It was such a moment of validation for the little girl in me who doubted if she belonged in certain rooms, let alone on that stage"

"My name really reminds me that being a leader is not about status, but really about service. Living up to that name now means remaining rooted in my purpose even in moments of discomfort. It motivates me to be the voice that creates space for others to grow and feel empowered in the spaces they step into"

"Our journey has been so deeply intertwined. Watching my sister on the Miss SA 2023 stage really showed me how attainable our big dreams are. She taught me how to remain graceful under pressure and to really stay true to myself regardless of where I am"

"I saw how much she transformed during her journey through Miss SA and what an incredible platform it is for self-development"

"To me inclusive education means that a child’s financial, linguistic, cultural and socioeconomic background does not hinder them from receiving fair access to resources. True inclusion is acknowledging potential and providing resources for each child to succeed"

"Speech therapy taught me the importance of language in education. When a child is not able to understand the language they are being taught in, we cannot begin to address later unemployment"

"Growing up in the Eastern Cape really grounded me. It taught me to remain humble and the importance of community. In Idutywa, I learnt how success is a collective effort. From drawing water to preparing meals for big family celebrations, if you want to accomplish something it starts with community"

"I am really focusing on playing my part in breaking the cycle of unemployment from its root cause through addressing our illiteracy crisis. I plan on collaborating with multilingual authors, translators and illustrators to produce books and resources that are tailored to all South African languages. And to create literacy workshops for parents and teachers in underserved communities, because transformation really begins at the roots"

"I initially wrote the book for one specific child, but after seeing how it impacted her understanding of colours and counting, I wanted to make it more accessible to children. I started by self-publishing and distributing the one in isiXhosa, which I now plan to translate into all 11 official languages"

"I have come to realise through my speech therapy sessions that language builds trust. It really has been an easy way to say, ‘I see you.’ Being multilingual helps me gain insights into the lives and experiences of different communities. It may not give me an in-depth image, but it allows me to meaningfully connect"

"Most importantly, I would love to focus on how to support struggling learners and how to identify learners with delays in language or with special needs"

"Hope is contagious. I want to show our youth that your background does not limit your future. When you start doing the work with what you have, you become able to achieve goals you previously thought were impossible"

"I view the prize package as a seed for my future, not an immediate reward — although I will likely buy myself something fun as well. During my reign I want to create a foundation for my literacy work that will carry on past my reign as Miss South Africa."

"South Africa, I have poured my heart into this journey. Every step, every late night, every moment of doubt and triumph, all leading to this final moment on that stage"

"It took years of hard work, sweat and tears to rise from a place of zero confidence, from once hating my complexion, my height and my figure to standing tall and proud in my truth"

"When I was on-stage during the crowning moment I was thinking to myself that whoever gets this crown is so deserving of it. when you are in that moment you can just be at peace, and just let go and let God take over. Even when Qhawe and I were standing there, we even forgot that we had to turn on que because we were just so in our moment. I was thinking that the fact that I have even gotten this far is enough. Whatever happens now is all up to God"

"I don’t think people understand that you don’t necessarily need a crown to fulfill your duties. the Miss SA organisation is still going to hold my hand through and ensure that my advocacy does actually breath life into the people that I want to reach. It was such a rewarding moment for me when I got that position knowing that I’ll still be able to be within the proximity of working with the organisation and the queen as well"

"They were really amazing. I think the sisterhood that gets born in that system is so beautiful because if you are missing an earing, someone has got you. If you are missing this or that, someone is always there to help. How we were stepping into an new era and having to now hold each other hands in support and not necessarily look at each other as competition, is comforting"

"just a drop in the large ocean of my amazing supporters who fuel me every single day"

"Being sashed First Runner-Up at Miss South Africa is a moment I’ll cherish forever, not just for what it represents, but for what it means in God’s divine plan. Every message, every word of love and encouragement has touched my heart deeply"

"I am exactly where I’m meant to be, walking in purpose, grace, and gratitude"

"I am my ancestors’ wildest dream, standing tall because of the prayers, sacrifices, and strength that came before me. And for that, I am endlessly thankful"

"A girl from Alexandra to the Miss South Africa stage. This journey has truly been nothing short of grace, growth, and gratitude"

"This crown is not just mine, it belongs to every dreamer from humble beginnings, to every girl who thought she couldn’t, but did anyway. South Africa, thank you for trusting me with your hearts. The journey doesn’t end here; it’s only the beginning"

"What has stood up for me the most is fighting for one another on the field even when I make a mistake my teammate is there to motivate me and that has kept me going and made me want to give my all."

"I started playing football when I was seven, mostly playing with boys at home."

"My flow of the game depends on the tempo."

"The positive energy and vibe that I bring into the team, by merely playing the drum, is very important to me."

"Football will speak for itself."

"We want to show young girls that anything is possible with hard work, determination and a never-give-up attitude."

"I remember how challenging it was playing with boys in the streets. Although it was difficult, I had discovered my love for football and I was prepared to continue playing no matter the circumstances."

"But for me, this is what being limitless is all about, working hard to achieve your goals and putting no limits to your dreams."

"Being limitless has taught me to believe in myself more as I hope to inspire other up-and-coming footballers who look up to me. It doesn’t matter where you come from or your what your background is, just believe in your talent and work hard."

"That’s actually what I want to be, the best striker in the world."

"Because I don't score for me, I score for the team, I score for my fans, I score my family, and my team to win at the end of the day."

"Football is a team sport, and I would not have achieved this without the incredible support of my coaches, teammates and family."

"Being nominated motivates me to push even harder, not just for myself but for my teammates and everyone who supports me. This nomination also inspires other kids to believe in themselves and work hard to achieve their dreams."

"I’m still the same humble Nthabiseng I was before. But definitely my life has changed a lot."

"A lot of these girls are discouraged. They have to choose between going to school and work or playing football."

"My advice to them is to work hard. Keep on pushing. Because success does not come without hard work."

"I know that it’s important to be educated, because football is a very short career."

"I fell in love with football when my two brothers played football, I would stand on the touch line and watch them. I was only 7-years-old when my mom bought me my first soccer boots and that increased my confidence."

"I am motivated that women’s football has been understated for a long time, now at least we have an opportunity to play. My mom used to tell me how she loved football but they never got the chance to play."

"My inspiration is to take South African football forward."

"I am very open to learning from my mistakes, and I’m really grateful for them."

"I’m really grateful and I know the people from home are very proud of me. We play very good football in Hammersdale and there aren’t a lot of girls that play football."

"My mother was a netball player and my father played football. So, I think my parents' love for sports really pushed me. I’m also happy that I got into football because if it wasn’t for it maybe I would be a disrespectful child and it just taught me to treat people with kindness."

"Sports changed my life."

"I believe that this says a lot about women’s football in general in South Africa. It means women’s football is growing in a positive manner. Each and every staff member and players gave their best and that’s why we were able to get the gold medal at the end of the tournament. This is a positive sign for the future of our national team."

"Yes I did and I think there are more young girls now who are seeing that it is possible to become a professional soccer player because of others who have led the way."

"As I pointed out, when I was young the only thing I saw myself being was and still is, a professional footballer."

"I think every player needs to be patient because their time is coming as well."

"She had that thing that football is for boys only."

"It’s actually not easy to juggle school and football."

"Sometimes you've to go to camp, while you have assignments. So it’s daunting but doable."

"As time went by, I had to start at church before going to Sunday games. Even my coaches understood that on Sunday I’d arrive late because I’d start at church. It was either that or I don’t come at all. But now she’s so happy for me."

"From day one, it became clear that no sports career lasts forever. We had to be as passionate about our studies as were about football."

"Being a versatile player is one of the things that work to my advantage."

"I love every position as long as I’m playing football. Whatever role I have to play in the position that I’m selected for, I always make sure I do my best."

"I always prepare for whatever comes my way."

"Honestly I do, I feel like the hard work is paying off but I realise that I still have a lot to learn, a lot to improve on and consistently playing is helping me improve a lot, so I'm grateful for that."

"So, I'm happy because it makes me feel at peace knowing that I can make a mistake and they will correct me. Also, knowing it's comfortable that they are happy for me to be here and it's good."

"It's gonna mean the world, I really love presenting the country."

"It was also one of his dreams to see me playing abroad, he would be very proud and happy for me now. My dad was very supportive with my career and came to watch each and every game I played, coaching me here and there. I know I am where I am today because of him."

"It is every girl’s dream to take part in the biggest women’s football tournament on the African continent, and I am no different."

"NEVER give up. Always lift your head up. Always be positive."

"My family is extremely proud of me and very excited. They spoil me every time I do well at sports."

"I want for other learners to know that there are opportunities in sports and if they continue studying doors could open, let your talent make room for you."

"I had to make a decision on my own, that I wanted to be a professional footballer."

"But it’s tough. Especially when there’s no women’s team. Because where do you start? Hopefully one day it will change. Hopefully I can be part of that change."

"It felt great knowing people notice the talent I am blessed with. It gives me the motivation to work hard and to get better."

"I believe if our league can have more sponsors it would help teams to build good structures and prepare properly for the league and games."

"To Market more women’s football games and promote each team just as much as the top teams."

"I was so overwhelmed with the mantle of responsibility that was presented before me. It was a great privilege to lead the line and I will never forget this opportunity."

"This captaincy role has further improved my knowledge of the game. As a skipper, there are so many aspects of the game that must always be studied in real-time. Although we did not finish the tournament the way we anticipated, I understood the challenges of what leadership comes with. The experience obtained is priceless and if the opportunity to become a captain arises again in the nearest future, I will be willing and ready to step in and showcase my abilities."

"That was a minor setback, nothing more. We are a team built to win and that is not about to change. Our focus is already set on the next challenge and Sunday’s game will be a perfect opportunity to bounce back."

"We are preparing quite well and focusing more on our composure in front of the goal because we realized we created lots of chances, but we only managed to convert one in our previous game. We do not want to leave anything to chance on Sunday. We will be sharper in front of goal and that will make all the difference."

"Finding the right balance between offensive and defensive moves, anticipating your opponent’s next move and making calculated decisions to gain an advantage are crucial aspects of both chess and football. Both games demand a combination of skill, foresight and tactical awareness to outwit your opponent and secure victory."

"The ability to think several moves ahead in chess has translated into improved anticipation and decision-making on the football pitch. I can now better identify potential openings and visualize different scenarios."

"I am committed to keep doing my best whenever I am called upon."

"This move will definitely help my career grow as a person and as a versatile footballer passionate about the game."

"Me coming to Italy and playing for AS Roma is a very big, life-changing experience for me. It will help my career grow and also help me grow as a person and a footballer."

"My target is to help the team achieve their objective and plan for the season. My other target is to improve as a player."

"Believe in yourself, no matter where you come from. In Paris, only discipline and passion matter."

"We’re often reduced to speed or power, but African women’s football is so much more than that."

"This tournament brings a different intensity, a unique emotion. It’s our legacy."

"There are so many things I love here. What stands out the most is being able to train every day alongside exceptional players. Every session is a learning moment. Some of them I used to admire on TV when I was younger, so now sharing the field with them and learning from them is such a rich experience."

"I told them to believe in themselves. It doesn’t matter where you come from—your background should never limit you. Being from a particular country or region doesn’t define your value. What matters is what you show on the field."

"Self-belief is the key."

"It sends a strong message to young girls across the continent: if we made it, they can too. They shouldn't limit themselves to stereotypical traits."

"No team should be taken lightly."

"We live with it. The pressure has always been there. When you wear the Nigerian jersey, you know the expectations are sky-high."

"Today, things are changing—and that’s excellent. The more people understand the importance of this competition, the more African women’s football will grow."

"But that’s the point: no matter where you come from, the path may be different, but the destination can be the same. We can all reach the top level, each in our own way."

"You have to believe in yourself and never doubt. You set your own ceiling."

"If you tell yourself you won’t make it, then you won’t. Don’t let anyone convince you that you can’t. Work hard, believe in yourself, and go for it."

"After every tough game, you just have to get over it. There are things you can’t control, and I try to focus on the ones I can. It’s okay to reflect and work on your performance, but the key is to move ahead."

"Be yourself, do your thing, and be confident in yourself. But most importantly, know God first, because God is great."

"We are strong. We never say never. We are the Super Falcons of Nigeria. That was our mentality."

"We motivated one another. We believed we could do it. We believed in what we are capable of."

"It’s a competition, and everyone is going there to fight for the trophy."

"This is a step toward achieving our aim in this competition. We want to keep winning until we reach our goal."

"The spirit in the camp is high. We are good to go. I know we are here to compete. Going to the Olympics is so special to me. I will always cherish this moment because so many people dreamt of playing at the Olympics and it never came to pass."

"I am going to say it is tough. It's a mental thing. It is just about getting your mind focused and ready for anything that comes because I know what I am putting myself through."

"I feel like the moment I stop playing and growing, so many people coming after me are going to suffer."

"I always keep pushing myself and staying focused on everything I do."

"The world is changing. Football is changing. People are growing. We still need to do more back home. The facilities need improvement. For me, I think we need to get the grassroots teams back"

"They need to invest more in women's football in Nigeria. The welfare of players is very important. Teams should start taking responsibility for their players, especially when they are injured. They need to do more. Player welfare is very important in women's football."

"In Nigeria, I think investors focus more on the men than the women."

"I want to give credit to Nigeria in this aspect: our women's league is good and strong. We just need people to come and invest."

"It has been tough playing where it is taboo for female footballers to play in Kano city. People feel like females don’t have anything to do with playing football and there’s no female team in Kano. Anytime they try to bring up the female team, it does not go anywhere. I feel it is because of the culture and how they see things differently."

"Well, it was tough but here am today, so the past is over and I am in the future."

"I was very happy. For me, it was progress and a big milestone. Seeing myself in the national team was a dream come true. I think that’s every athlete’s dream — to represent their country. Although I was on the bench, I was very happy to be a part of the squad."

"Winning the WAFCON is definitely the biggest moment of my career so far. In the final against Morocco, we came from behind to win 3-2. I cried after the match because I never thought I would reach that stage. That was the happiest moment of my career."

"But I kept working hard and praying, and by God’s grace, my dream came true."

"I want to do this by working hard and staying focused. I believe everything happens in its time and season, and I know my time will come."

"I will tell them to never stop believing in their dreams. Keep working hard and keep praying, because you never know when your breakthrough will come."

"It’s a gradual process, but women’s football in Nigeria is growing very fast. With time, we won’t just dominate Africa but will compete with the best teams in the world. Many players abroad came through the Nigerian league, and that shows how strong our foundation is."

"For me it was tears of joy and also it was a feeling of me wanting this platform for so long, wanting this for so long and then the special person I wanted to be there was not there."

"In the quarterfinal, I didn't do my arrow celebration because that day was just for my dad. I just wanted to dedicate that day for him."

"Every day is for him too, but that day was just like, this one is special because I was just coming back from his funeral and I just wanted everything to be about him."

"This is why I say I love challenges, because when I see someone ahead of me, that is what I want, because then I tend to push myself to meet up and to pass."

"But when I see that I am the same as others, there is nobody chasing me to go ahead of whatever standard I am. So right now, I am doubling my work because I have teammates that push me."

"Personally, I love competition."

"I love to fight for something great, I love to compete because then when I win, I am so proud of myself."

"It takes a lot of determination to be at this level, and it takes a lot of self-belief because I always believe that I am a born champion."

"My dad was more than a father, he was my foundation, his sacrifices, his wisdom, his hard work shaped the kind of person I am today."

"I had no option because I knew that as a striker I should always be present in the box if my team mate is ahead of me because I need to create support options for them and be available."

"She does not speak English and I don't speak French, but somehow we communicate. We just understand each other. So we just brought that connection from outside the pitch onto the pitch because we are both forwards and we need each other."

"Sometimes we use Google Translate off the field, but it is not always correct."

"Playing in such a competitive environment helps you grow mentally and physically."

"Well, in my team we don’t play under any pressure. We play with peace of mind, and in unity knowing that we are leaving everything in the hands of God. That’s the believe of our coach and her teachings."

"If I’m not a footballer I would have been a professional barber because I once owned a haircut salon and was very good at it."

"I want to make a career progress by taking my football skills abroad."

"Football is a team sport, and our results come from hard work and dedication."

"I love my new role because I want my name to be synonymous with goal scoring in the elite women’s league."

"As a professional, you need to be ready for whatever happens in a game, so I was ready to step up for Ghana."

"We're confident in our abilities and believe we have an advantage over Morocco. They might be relying on outdated information about our playing style, which could work in our favor. We're ready to take them by surprise and make the most of this opportunity."

"We urge our fans to remain calm and supportive. We know they've been waiting for a win, and we're working hard to make that happen."

"The women's game is changing and football is growing so everyboy is putting in everything to get there."

"I’ve been preparing for this, and Ghanaians have been waiting for this moment."

"I would like to win this trophy and see my name in the history books of Ghana, of Africa, and even worldwide. I’m very happy, and I know Ghanaians are happy too."

"I'm extremely excited and proud that we've made it to this stage. Ghana has been waiting a long time for this, and we've mentally prepared ourselves for the challenge."

"We knew it was a do-or-die situation, and we rose to the occasion."

"We are not ending here. We are taking this mentality to the semifinals. I know for sure that we are going to win the trophy."

"I am very, very, very happy. I have been preparing for this. Ghanaians have been preparing for this. We had to kill ourselves."

"I want my name to be in the history books in Ghana, in Africa, and the world. I am very happy, and I know that Ghanaians are happy."

"It’s every child’s dream to achieve what we’ve done today. This moment is bigger than just football — it’s about belief, sacrifice, and pride in the Ghana shirt."

"This victory is for Ghana."

"We’re not done yet. We believe we can go all the way. Ghana deserves this — our fans, our families, and every little girl dreaming of wearing this jersey one day."

"It may look like helicopter parenting, but in Black culture and Iranian culture, that interconnectedness is deeply important"

"For me, optimism is a belief in self"

"Having to pour so much thought into basic survival doesn’t give your brain space to think about, Well, why are we living?"

"It’s overwhelming to think about how broken some of these systems are, how imperfect some of our tools for change are"

"Young people rise to the occasion time and time again, especially when we’re faced with things that are of deep concern to us"

"We need every voice. We need every person"

"On a set, you’re a character. Everything about you is altered. In the tent, the goal is to be yourself."

"Being Black and Iranian is something that even subconsciously plays into what I bring to a role"

"“It’s not about appearances or needing to seem like I’m good at everything"

"Education has always been an integral part of my life"

"My parents instilled this idea that learning is a lifelong adventure, whether that's in a classroom or out in the world"

"It's OK to not have all the answers"

"We cannot rely on the status quo, and we will need to pursue unconventional paths"

"Let yourself be bad at things"

"Not every attempt of mine would be a surefire success"

"We are not here to know, we are here to learn"

"The best learning happens when we give ourselves permission to fumble through something new"

"Finding what fulfills us is the ultimate success"

"It's OK to have multiple passions and to pursue them in various capacities"

"Allow yourself the freedom to explore different fields"

"My 20s has been a jarring experiment in figuring out how to give myself space to be mediocre at things"

"I have an unreasonable belief that I should be good immediately, and that's no way to discover new paths"

"One of the biggest exercises in being curious has been the first step of self-work, of talking to myself about being bad, and allowing myself to be absolutely an amateur with no goals of being advanced at something"

"At the age of 14, I had a mic in my hand and they were asking me about representation and about topics that I think not many 14-year-olds have a chance to discuss"

"My education allowed me to speak more ­confidently about the things that I advocate for in my work"

"I feel like I’m only here because of the people who have come before me"

"Fashion innovation is hard, but when people come in with their own aesthetic, it’s really inspiring"

"Originality and authenticity are synonymous to me in that, on a spiritual, more emotional level, it’s about staying grounded in who you are"

"The moments when I stop ­worrying about how I’m being perceived are really ­freeing."

"But what I love so much about the collision between time and space that has happened right now is the fact that I am in no way the face of anything, because when I look at so many of my peers, there are people doing the same work, more work, different work than I am"

"I describe my future as being policy-adjacent"

"I'm never going to find myself in positions in which I genuinely regret what I'm doing."

"We want this spectrum of ourselves portrayed in every physical possible spiritual, mental, emotional way that is so much more than saying I am a brown woman, or I am a black woman on TV, but saying, I am a fraction of my community"

"we are continuously undoing the works of how media, in particular, has been weaponized against minorities of any kind"

"So many times in the conversation, [colorism is used] as a straight up denial of blackness"

"I realized that when my norms did not fit those of the world around me, it was time to change the world norms"

"The story of immigration is something that is undoubtedly tied to mine"

"Leaving my teens is very intimidating to me."

"The journey into becoming an actor wasn’t one that was necessarily anchored in this desire to be on screen, but more so anchored in this desire to be a part of storytelling"

"My sense of audacity came from the fact that I felt so well represented in my home, from what I was looking at, from the fact that my parents formed what we call an alternate curriculum of books, folklore, fairytales, where everybody was global, Black, Brown, from every different part of the world"

"The question of why should the audience care is something that we’re always having to answer"

"It’s up to us as players to raise the standard."

"The support may not be there at the level we want, but when we show quality, passion, and competitiveness on the field, more people will take notice."

"We can’t wait for people to take us seriously — we have to make them see the value."

"We respect our opponents, but we also know what we bring to the table."

"It’s about staying disciplined and playing with heart. We owe it to our fans, our country, and ourselves to fight for every point."

"The future is bright."

"I’m really grateful to win this award two times in a row and to be the top scorer. This only makes me want to do more."

"I thank god for this opportunity to play in the CAF Women’s Champions League. It was a dream that came true and now I just want to achieve more."

"There's no pressure on me at all. Football is just a normal game, with movement and passing."

"I'm very much relaxed and looking forward to the match. Although, it is a crucial match there is no pressure whatsoever on me. I will do my best to help take my team very far in the competition."

"I'm not just the only player in the team, so I have to team up with other members of the squad to push the country very far in the competition."

"As a team, we are determined to give our best to win the match."

"We will make sure we raise high the image of Ghana."

"I don't have specifications, just have money. I don't want those old men who are rich; I want young rich guys. I want the money the young guys have. The boys have money. They ride the big cars in town like Benz and the others."

"We have mentally equipped ourselves for this game after undertaking the essential training, and we are set to perform on Friday."

"First and foremost, I want to extend my gratitude to the coach for the chance he has provided us, the younger players. We have gained a lot from the senior team members, and we continue to learn and develop."

"We want to do the best we can to win it."

"I am very happy, it is not just about my performance but the total contribution from the entire team. They fought for the badge and made Ghana proud. I am really excited."

"When I was coming on, I told myself even if it is for only two minutes I will make use of it and that is what I did when I was coming on."

"I can’t wait to play on a team that has been so successful over recent seasons and alongside incredible players I’ve admired from afar. I’m ready to work hard and embrace the challenge ahead. See you all soon!"

"I’m ready for this challenge."

"The team’s success and the players here are incredible, and I’m excited to contribute and learn from them."

"We are still learning and growing as well. From the Under 17 youth level to the Black Queens, I think there is a lot of difference between and I think the senior players especially Portia, Alice Kusi, Jennifer Cudjoe, Grace Asantewaa they are helping us a lot. They have been with us on and off the field so we are really grateful and happy with that."

"Training has been really serious, it's been very detailed, and we can't wait to start the game because we know how important this game is for us and I believe with the preparation that we would go far."

"Obviously, the fans would play a big impact in our performance so we pary that they have hope in us to pray for us and yeah, we will do our best to deliver."

"I have a huge desire to come back and play and to become even better than I was when I left. I’ve come back to stay, and I feel a great sense of calm and patience."

"It’s been a hectic year and a half, but I’ve learned an incredible amount about myself, become more mature, and gained a patience I perhaps didn’t have before."

"That’s why I also associate it with family and togetherness, and that’s what I need right now."

"I'm looking forward to doing my best every day on the field to serve the country."

"Not my finest tournament, but still a memorable one!"

"I’m grateful we managed to secure the bronze medal in my AWCON debut. I apologize to my fans for not quite living up to expectations I know I’m capable of more, and I promise to bounce back stronger."

"To those who supported me through the ups and downs, thank you for your encouragement and prayers. Your words kept me going, and I’m honored to have such a loyal fanbase."

"I’ll be back, and next time, I’ll make sure to bring the goals!"

"What started as a dream will now become a reality and congratulations to all of us."

"So far I’ve only played characters who aren’t the nicest and are always the “mean girl” in some way, but I would really love to switch it up, take on more challenging roles and you know, throw in a splash of kindness here and there"

"Being placed in front of that camera, even as a little girl, I knew THIS is what I wanted to do. It was so familiar and comfortable to me"

"My advice for newer actors is to know your worth"

"Be who you are and don’t change how you see yourself just to fit in this business"

"The best advice i’ve ever been given was by my grandmother who told me, “The empowered woman is powerful beyond measure and beautiful beyond description.” And by my father who told me “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world would do this, it would change the world” he was reciting William Faulkner"

"My definition of happiness isn’t about what I do, or where I am. It’s all inside. It’s when I feel content, or I know who I am and what i’m about."

"when things get rocky or stuff falls through, it doesn’t change me, or my morals"

"Social Media is very important to me because with a growing fan base becomes a platform. A platform to reach out to people and touch on subjects that aren’t talked about as much as they should be. I feel it gives me a responsibility to speak for others and for myself"

"I learned most about my own voice on this set and the power it holds"

"Once you start to become more aware of different things and look at the bigger picture, it’s not so black and white"

"Another thing I got from living in Uganda is that there’s such a strong sense of community; everyone who lived in that village was considered my family."

"I’ve never really had somewhere that feels like home."

"I was very exposed to a different world of art and culture and different philosophies, and I feel grateful for that because it helped shape my idea of the world"

"Growing up in Uganda, I saw a lot of white people, but I never felt like a minority—I thought this is what it’s like everywhere"

"When we moved to Vancouver, my mother had to relearn a lot of things—the only things that she really got to bring with her were her religion and her culture"

"My family has always been quite theatrical just in our being"

"That was my introduction to character study and acting as a means of understanding people and relationships"

"When I moved to New York, it was the first time I felt that I could live for myself and try different things"

"But I also am a firm believer that it’s about the people you have around you"

"In Uganda, I would never have thought of doing this job. Not because it doesn’t happen there but because it’s as if, in my mind and in my family’s mind, we already had a completely different path mapped out for our lives. Instead, Canada has opened up new opportunities for me that I could not have imagined"

"I feel like when you’re putting too much pressure on something it tends to combust, so you have to find pockets of different creative release"

"Even though acting is a creative outlet, it’s not something that you can do by yourself unless you’re reading scripts or analyzing movies"

"I want to experiment and push myself to see how far I can go. I’m down for anything that’s as far from me as possible. So whatever that means to you, to whoever’s reading this, I just want to do that. I want to do some crazy shit"

"In Uganda, the culture that you’re born into is kind of what you follow throughout the rest of your life, but when I came here, it felt more like I had the option to be my own person and choose where I wanted my life to go."

"We are very motivated. It has been a long time since Tanzania has participated in a women's AFCON finals, so the whole team – players and staff – is happy to be back. There is a real excitement at the idea of representing our country at this level."

"We are preparing seriously, with a lot of desire, and we are aware of the importance of this tournament for us, for our country, and for the development of women's football in Tanzania."

"I rely a lot on the advice of my coaches, whether at club or national level. They help me to progress, to stay focused on my goals. I'm also very attentive to my teammates, I learn from them. I think the main thing is to stay humble, to work hard every day, and to always keep in mind the collective goals."

"My personal success only counts if it helps the team move forward."

"It's little moments like that that that remain engraved. He's a world star, and to be able to cross paths in the same club is something inspiring."

"We wish each other good luck, we discuss the preparation with our respective teams. It's nice to know that we will be several representatives of the same club in such an important competition. It strengthens the bonds, and we motivate each other to represent our countries and our colours well."

"We respect our opponents, but we're not going to be satisfied with being there. We will fight, proudly represent our country and try to get results. We are ready to take up the challenge."

"It's a very special moment for me. It's the first time I'm going to participate in a senior AFCON, so I'm both excited and focused. I'm preparing seriously, physically and mentally. It's a big step in my career."

"I want to fight for my country, give the best of myself on the pitch and make the Tanzanian team proud. I'm really looking forward to this experience."

"First of all because it's an opportunity to play against the best players on the continent. But also because it is a showcase to show the development of women's football in Tanzania. Through this competition, we have the opportunity to make our country, our level, our ambitions known. It is also a way to prove that Tanzania has its place on the African stage, that our efforts to advance women's football are starting to bear fruit."

"I would tell her to believe in herself. The path is not easy, it is true, but it is worth it."

"Today, football can be a career, a real opportunity for emancipation."

"You shouldn't be afraid to show your talent, to fight for your dreams."

"There is a lot of potential among young girls in Tanzania. They need to know that if they work hard, they can succeed, help their families and make their country proud. Women's football is a way forward."

"I had a very good time in Spain but when I got a chance to go play in the Saudi league, I thought it was better to look at other challenges based on my goals."

"It was difficult initially to get used to the environment in Saudi Arabia, including the language, food and many things, but now I’m used to it and everything is going well, and I’m happy."

"Cristiano Ronaldo is my hero in the men’s game."

"Personally, I want to continue to play at a good level at all times and, ultimately, I want to become the best player in Africa and the world."

"I feel pressure but also happiness every time I play for my nation."

"I want to try everything because I get to learn a lot of things along the way. It makes me motivated to do better."

"You’ll never know where you stand unless you start doing something. It’s only when you begin that you see what you need to improve on. And the process never ends, so I can only hope to keep working and getting better."

"Everything was challenging. Nothing good comes easy, so you have to give it your best, give it your all and put your heart into the work that you do."

"Life always gives us lemons. So, what I do is that I accept it, learn from it, and appreciate the wisdom it brings."

"I know that not everyone likes me. That is completely fine. In my head and heart, my constant reminder is that I am unique. I am my own person. I treasure and embrace my uniqueness."

"The struggle for self-esteem is real. There are days when there are clouds over my head. But I know that those dark cloud days are normal. They are part and parcel of me being me."

"I don't think a woman should be getting any hate for making the first move. For me, that's not being flirtatious at all. I don't think a woman should be receiving harsh words and hate just because she's being courageous to the man she's flirting with."

"I also don't think I should be getting hate if I ever decide to put myself out there. I look at him from the perspective that I'm in my 20s, I own a business, I have a nice career, I pay my bills and taxes, so why need to hate when I just want to have fun?"

"A lot of people say I'm trying too hard or I'm trying so hard. Not to be arrogant or anything, but I don't really need to try. It's really not that hard for me, just being honest. If I really wanted to date a guy right now, I wish I had one."

"This is where I actually started, I'm just an extra running. So, now, I'm really excited to explore."

"looking both reflective and fired up. “That’s why I want to continue that genre in my next projects.”"

"“Someone’s blonde,” accompanied by three emojis."

"“Warm hair just hits different. Pinterest hair, made real for @blythe.”"

"“Well, hello Switzerland,”"

"“Blythe from Prague had to go to Gstaad, Switzerland for the Guess winter event,”"

"“When Kadenang Ginto came into being, it turned my life around. So many blessings came,”"

"So that they can still think that someone cares about them and is willing to help people like them."

"If they don't see that, that's on them. I'll just continue working and being a good person."

"“You only live once”"

"I wouldn't consider my day stressful when I have a lot to do. For me, every day is a productive day."

"When I get nervous, I always hold it. Every time that I get nervous, I just hold it so I feel like I always have someone with me."

"They are the ones who fuel me. They are the ones who inspire me. They are my guide in life. If they weren’t in my life, I probably wouldn’t be here today."

"Pray to God because he and the people around you will help you achieve your dream."

"Lastly, don’t be afraid to fail. It’s all part of the journey because that means you tried and you can always try again."

"Just hold on to your dream, fight for it, work for it."

"Always choose yourself."

"Love is ugly when it's the opposite of kindness, selflessness, and respect."

"We mourn something or someone that once made our hearts fall. And to grieve it means you had something worth losing. And with that — just that — it is beautiful."

"Know your boundaries. And have self-respect."

"To everyone who hurt me… I will always show them grace. It’s a grace forged by heartache, but refined by healing."

"I will never ever give up on love. Never ever, love remains — still and always — beautiful."

"Everybody is both smart and beautiful in their own ways."

"The biggest thing when it comes to well-being is a reason to get up in the morning. You need a sense of purpose, you need to feel needed and that usually comes when you're with a community, when you have people who believe in you."

"I'll go the extra mile to share an experience with somebody. I never want to do something by myself. The best experiences are always shared with someone so that they can bring them home to their loved ones and create that ripple effect."

"Ako, I'm the type of person to listen and understand. And then I learn from everyone else. It's not like I [only] learn from my own situations, but I learn from other people's situations too... I learned so much from each and every person inside the house."

"Nothing will work unless you do."

"I will use my voice for the good."

"Now I have a solid person in my life who I can really count on."

"You know, I take that being from the Philippines, born in the Philippines, very true to heart. I think it's part of who I am. So just being able to go to different parts of the country and to be able to play the sport that I love and just showing younger girls that, you know, they can do this too. They can dream big. They can dream fearlessly."