5 Minutes with
The Shield ambassador and founder of Rockingnheels dance studio shares her road to success and self-care tips.
Nkateko Dinwiddy
TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY
When your body is feeling great, you naturally become more confident. When I move around and dance it’s almost like a stress reliever – it makes me feel more confident. I sweat a lot and having amazing products from Shield help me prevent the things that make me more insecure, like getting rid of underarm stains from my clothes.
LOVE THE SKIN YOU’RE IN
Growing up, kids teased me about my skin colour; they would call me “blackie” and “darkie”. I see a lot of pressure on social media for dark-skinned women to look a certain way to be accepted as ‘beautiful’. But you’re dierent for a reason. Being dark-skinned makes you unique; it makes you stand out. So embrace it, love it and appreciate it.
DIG A LITTLE DEEPER
I had to have a lot of conversations with myself after I lost my dad, as I lacked confidence. I wasn’t eating; and I just didn’t love myself. Now, my confidence comes from inner healing, realising who I am and how I can help others get to their moment of realisation.
LEARN TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE IN ORDER TO BE COMFORTABLE
When I do private dance lessons, I often get to work with women who have been in abusive relationships. Some have been treated so badly that they don’t love themselves anymore. I can read body language very well. I can see who is insecure and who doesn’t love themselves just by the way they move, which is why I use dance as a medium to help others embrace their body.
BEING A SHIELD AMBASSADOR
I was just doing me when Shield called me. I didn’t even think twice when they asked me to be a brand ambassador. I was like, “This is it!” I’m all about loving your body, taking care of you. Because of this, I’m very careful with which brands I align myself. Whatever campaign I choose needs to make sense with my message and goal.
MY DAUGHTER, SANA
You know what I would love for my daughter? I would love for her to own her own space. I want her to break barriers, to trust her gut and follow it, to be happy and to follow her heart, and to remain as confident as she is now.
UNITED WE STAND
I use my social media platforms to reach and empower women. I want to get to a point where women around the world love themselves – and each other – more.