ELEANOR DOUGLAS-MEYERS When Rachel Kolisi took the floor at the Boardwalk in Gqeberha last night for the second local instalment of her Falling Forward Roadshow, the audience was enthralled. There were moments of laughter, moments that were noticeably more emotional and, perhaps most importantly, moments that encouraged those sitting in the room to reflect on…

By Thandolukayise Shangase and Sikhulule Moyeni For many girls, a love for football begins long before they run onto a cheering stadium for the first time. The love begins on kasi streets or dusty fields, playing for local teams after school. The love begins despite doubts from families and communities who believe idiski is only…

BY ELEANOR DOUGLAS-MEYERS Fourteen years after Braemore Lundall-Sauls set out to disrupt Nelson Mandela Bay’s idea of a fashion show, Luce della Moda is back. Its 2026 chapter, ECLIPSE, is bigger, more collaborative and arrives at a time when the designer behind it is stepping into the spotlight too.

Algoa FM presenter Lee Duru has been trying to lose weight since she was 10 years old. At an age when most of us were deciding what to spend our tuck shop money on, she had already started thinking about dieting, weight and changing her body.

You don’t have to be a coder to belong in tech. That’s one of the things Mushfiqoh Samodien, Business Director at Aspire Solutions, would like more young women to know.

Nelson Mandela University lecturer Algene Koeberg-Van Boomen has been selected for the prestigious DAAD Research Stays for University Academics and Scientists programme, earning an opportunity to conduct research in Germany on South Africa’s transition to electric vehicles and the circular economy.

When the lights go up at the Voice of Courage Fashion Show on 14 August, audiences will see elegant designer garments, confident models and a polished runway production. But behind every step is choreographer Averil Packirisamy, whose passion for empowering women has become just as important as the fashion itself.

What started as a student job has turned into a thriving culinary career for one young Eastern Cape chef who is now helping lead one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s busiest hotel kitchens.

There’s something refreshingly real about Julie Oates. The woman behind has built one of South Africa’s most recognisable local fashion brands Julz Shoes, but there’s no big ego attached to the success. In fact, throughout the conversation, Julie constantly redirects praise back to the people around her.

There’s something quietly powerful about women who build things from scratch. Not loudly. Not with endless resources or backup plans waiting in the wings. Just vision, consistency and the refusal to give up when life leaves very little room for failure.