Love the woman you are!

Howick women, who are size 38 and over, have launched a new group which aims to encourage more women their size to love and appreciate themselves as they are.

The founder of Ntangayethu, Ntombifikile Shangase-mkhize said the group has recently launched a leadership platform for plus size young woman from the age of 18 from different backgrounds, race or different body shapes.

“We started this group because we wanted to create a safe welcoming and comfortable space for the ladies to talk openly, share ideas and new skills, motivate each other, build and comfort on another. Unlearn bad behaviours know and love their regardless how they look and in doing all this knowing we are all made and loved by God so we are beautiful in our own way.,” said Shangase-mkhize.

She said the group aims at empowering women by learning new skills and also have healthy and fun experiences visiting various attractions’ areas around Howick. She said they do crocheting and knitting, making bags, baskets, toilet cover sets and hand bags. They also do flowers and vegetable gardens.

Shangase-mkhize added that members of the group also encourage each other to live a healthy lifestyle by doing yoga classes, fun walks, exercises, aerobics and discuss good and healthy eating habits.

They also do talks and encourage regular checks for HIV, cancer, BP, cholesterol and to do pap smear twice a year.

“I grew up as the only girl in the family and I’ve always been a big girl. When I was in Grade 8, I had a friend that was smaller than me and used to do modeling. There was a teacher that used to make fun of me that I started wondering if there was anything wrong with me. I also used to visit my friend’s establishments where they will have girls that wear small sizes and there were never plus size women,” said Shangase-mkhize.

She said she started a promotion for plus size girls hoping they will also get the opportunity to host at these establishments but that never materialised. That’s when she decided to start Ntangayethu so plus size women can also have opportunities and be in a place where they can comfortable and talk about their lives freely.

Shangase-mkhize said that while most of the pageants hardly have plus size contestants, they will be hosting one for women from size 38 and over later this year. She said this is part of their way to encourage women to appreciate and love themselves the way they are.