‘Idols’ winner takes plus-size challenge
NOMA Khumalo overcame all the odds‚ including body-shaming‚ on her journey to winning Idols.
But her biggest challenge now is to encourage plus-sized women to also believe in themselves.
Khumalo‚ who won the popular music competition last year‚ said she has had to face a barrage of criticism about her weight and wants to encourage plus-sized women to also feel comfortable in their own skin.
“People can say what they say on social media, but I know who I am,” Khumalo said.
She said she had never been concerned about what people thought of her physical appearance‚ but nearly lost her resolve during her time on Idols.
Khumalo said that she felt insecure on stage during one performance and was not able to deliver to her fullest potential. “I was wearing a polka dot dress and Unathi [Msengana] could see right through me‚ that I was holding back,” Khumalo said.
“I couldn’t help but think: ‘Ah‚ Twitter is going to say this’ or‚ ‘someone is going to say that my outfit didn’t look good or my make-up’.
“You can’t help but think about those things‚” she said.
Luckily‚ Msengana advised Khumalo to stay away from social media and the criticism that she faced on it.
That advice helped when socialite Dineo Moloisane later took to social media saying: “She doesn’t even look like an Idol. She should start by losing weight.”
Khumalo’s fans hit back at the comments‚ sparking a social media storm.
Khumalo said she only learnt about the incident two months later. – TshisaLive