Ed’s Letter

As it is now tradition, South Africans celebrate Women’s Month in August. Before COVID-19 wrecked our social calendars, we would gather in numbers in celebration of women who had made great strides in the quest for the realisation of women’s rights. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear how we need to celebrate each other as women now, and to not celebrate ourselves and other women only in August, but also throughout the year. Although it is already our mission here at TRUELOVE magazine to celebrate women, our August issue is always extra special because this is the time when women are officially celebrated by all. For the third time this year, we also proudly present to you our annual Prestige List (previously “The Class of … “series).

This is our carefully curated list of women whose work and influence is worth noting. You may have not heard of some of them, but that is simply because they usually don’t seek to be in the gaze of mainstream media. So once again, this year, we acknowledge the women in the health and humanities, business, arts and culture, and sport sectors. Each and every one of them is an inspiration to us.

This year, our list is spearheaded by health workers who have been at the forefront of fighting the virus since the first COVID-19 case was reported in South Africa and risked their health in doing so. It must be noted that most have been working under less-than-ideal conditions and yet, every day, they put on their protective gear and fight for us. Many have lost their lives in the fight, and many have witnessed their own friends succumbing to COVID-19. We salute you. We thank you.

August is Women’s Month and as a leading Black women’s magazine in SA, this is our key issue. We’ve themed it, “The Legacy Cover”, and so, after many months of behind-the-scenes hard work, we are proud to present to you the current Miss South Africa, Shudufhadzo Musida, and the iconic Basetsana Kumalo, our Miss South Africa 1994, who also went on to be crowned first princess at the Miss World pageant.

Shudu is also on her way to Miss World this year, and we really hope some of that Bassie Kumalo magic has rubbed off on her! We are all behind her, as she prepares to take her own journey onto the world stage.