"I was proud to see how a South African story was told by South Africans on our very own soil and also from our own voice. We did not have to bring an international start for this, we went with our talent which is phenomenal."

"I believe that love should be the foundation of every marriage and not money or anything materialistic."

"Love is eternal. People have been hurt and disappointed and because of that, have stopped believing in the existence of love. You find love from God. Learn to love yourself. Only then can you love someone else."

"A child is a gift from God regardless of how it was concieved. God does not make mistakes."

"Rise up from the place of guilt and feeling sorry for yourself and run to your destiny."

"My passion kept me going, but sometimes passion does not pay the bills."

"Mental illnesses are different and there are no names for them in our own languages."

"Mental illnesses and disorders are different and that is what people don't quite understand."

"I grew up thinking there were things I was not worthy of."

"I would say all things are possible and you can open any door."

"I would rather lose my sense of touch. I love talking and listening to stories. So, I can't afford not to be able to talk and hear."

"I calculated everything - I planned and over-planned at times and I ended up missing opportunities because I was very careful."

"Just throw yourself in the deep end. Whatever opportunity you get, throw yourself in."

"Being a mom has taught me to be patient, be still and to listen. To give attention when it is needed and give time - and that I just need to calm down."

"We still need to learn about mental disorders and know that people who have them have a place in society. They just need to be better understood and get the help they deserve."

"As black people, we still have a long way to go to understand and learn more about mental illnesses. This is not to say we are people that don't want to learn or know more, but there is also the language barrier."

"It is so clear that so many people are oblivious to the effects of drugs, black tax, abuse, GBV, sibling rivalry in our communities. Or they choose to behave like that here on the socials"

"Let us speak up and out against our perpetrators. No matter how small that action may seem to others. No matter how long ago it happened. Keeping quiet only protects them and leaves us drowning in pain"

"This is my child’s father. Samphiwa, who has not seen or met her. I got a protection order against him. If anything ever happens to me, never let him take her. He would repeatedly beat me up, starve and lock me up at yide ufe ndizokonwaba [die so that I can be happy]"

"By the time I escaped in January 2022, my cards were no longer mine. Outside, he was a gentleman. Opening doors etc, and back home, he had cleaned out my Nedbank accounts. Leaving me in 200k debt, which I only discovered after leaving him. I left him two properties"

"So desperate to make this work as back home I had another story… he knew. He would park outside work the whole day and wait for me. I made excuses. And I tried to understand and help. I was desperate not to be rough"

"When I was younger I didn’t have the guts to pursue my passion, I thought I had to have a stable career since entertainment is mainly on a freelance basis."

"I am glad I have my educational background and there came a point where I had to choose between my articles in charted accounting or entertainment, and I chose the latter and, as they say, the rest is history."

"I had to develop a thick skin because being rejected after numerous auditions is difficult. I learned that you can’t get every role, not because there’s something wrong with you but because you are not what casting agents are looking for pertaining the role"

"I also assumed that everyone is nice and although there are genuine people, not everyone is what you think they are. Meaning, I had to learn to work with different people the best way I know how, without losing who I am"

"I don’t think success is a final destination. For me, success is about balance. It’s a challenge that I face because as a career-oriented woman whose married and has other caps to wear is quite hard"

"Focusing on achieving one aspect of your life without giving attention to other areas is not a healthy way to be successful, if one finds balance, they find success"

"I have learned, from my experience that being an entrepreneur is about failing. But it’s a necessary experience that gives invaluable lessons. It’s also important to have a good support system around you because failing can be demotivating. Every failure is a contributing factor to what you need to learn, no matter what you are aspiring to achieve."

"The nve of the collection is about accentuating the femininity of a woman, because if a woman looks good they feel good, and it radiates where she goes."

"You must be able to take constructive criticism and avoid having people who inflate your ego only"

"Surround yourself with people who want the best for you and who can help you see your goals at a different perspective. Have a good support system around you because we all need that."

"There’s no such thing as a free meal, meaning you have to work hard and smart for everything you want in life. Nothing comes easy, and if something doesn’t work out the first time doesn’t mean you have to abandon it."

"I was so supported by Sean-Marco and I don’t say many men could’ve done what he did. An incredible dedication to parenting and partnership. What a man"

"I was huge, but zero regrets on eating my way through pregnancy. And here we are today, healthy and happy"

"It's best to not care what people think of you but social media doesn't filter peoples opinions of you, so I've heard them all. But I suppose people see me on screen and assume I'm quite glamorous when in reality I'm quite the opposite"

"This post is simply to express and share my journey it comes with zero judgment for however you choose to birth."

"Enter ‘the ring of fire’ - yes it literally feels like it’s on fire. I pushed for three contractions and my incredible partner, Sean-Marco, delivered our darling daughter into the world. His hands were the first to touch her and the only faces she looked upon were those of her family. She cried beautifully, we checked her vitals and she was happy and perfect. Everything I had wanted for her. Her perfect birth"

"It's been so overwhelming because you don't expect people to know you or recognise you in the street, but they do. People are so friendly and even my own extended family treat me like a celeb. I have to tell them that I am not any different to before. It is crazy"

"I'm honoured to be able to play Lilly more and more. It is a challenge that is really exciting, but also a little nerve-racking. I think that they saw the kind of person I am, a bubbly and confident person, and saw that I could do a good job"

"It does make one worry about the longevity of work. We already have high unemployment in South Africa, and for artists, the struggle continues. There’s still so much we’re fighting for"

"I love the simplicity and the sense of community. Even though my late grandmother is no longer there, being in that environment keeps me connected to my roots."

"I’m gifting myself the time lost. I’m now fully focused on exploring not just acting but other aspects of the industry."

"I want to be discerning in what I take on, especially because I have someone looking up to me. I won’t take on aggressive roles unless they serve a purpose—whether to drive a story or make an impact. I believe South Africa needs more educational productions."

"I’ve been out for two years because I didn’t do anything in 2024. That’s why people see this as a return"

"To my husband, every step of this pregnancy has been easier because of how helpful and caring you are, I love you."

"On the first day I made R700 and I thought ‘mmh, we can do this again’. So now we had the essentials of bread and milk and I restocked to make the hotdogs again and I have never stopped"

"We literally did not have bread at home and we could not work. I had been making the hotdogs for a while and anyone who had ever had them had asked why I don’t sell them. So, backed up into a corner, I decided to just try"

"It has grown so much because of the people in the street. I understand my market. My market are the people that are in the street. I’d never be ashamed of where I get my money. Ngama never lawo"

"People do not usually get to see celebrities doing the groundwork. For them it is also an inspirational thing that ‘haybo Lilly, uyi-celebrity and you are out here in the street selling hotdogs’. And I say we all have to hustle because depending on one salary does not work"

"I am never ever ashamed. My mother taught me that you do not ever feel embarrassed by doing honest work. If it gives you money and brings you happiness, then there’s nothing to be ashamed of. It is my side hustle, I own it, and no one can tell me anything. It is a brand I am very proud of. I can never be ashamed of it"