5 minute read
Creating a platform for women
By Basetsana Makhalemele
Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook once said: “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.
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Surely South African women have a lot to converse about with what is happening in every area of their lives. This is how two former Mrs SA finalists, entrepreneurs and cofounders of the talk show The Catch Up Corner, Trudy Zulu and Truimph Mbiva, see their role as women.
Their position about the role women should play has propelled them to create a platform that shines the spotlight on South African women from all walks of life.
This new and dynamic television talk show aims to highlight women who are doing phenomenal things in their respective fields of work.
The Mrs South Africa journey
Trudy and Triumph both agree that taking the Mrs South Africa journey re-introduced them to the best version of themselves and gifted them a value friendship.
The platform forced them to confront and conquer themselves, to learn so much about being a personality in the public eye and how to go after ones dreams.
Trudy says some platforms are created for you to win and “some serve as a stepping stone, that’s what Mrs SA was for us" .
"To me, any journey one undertakes has to be effective enough to change my internal state before opening any external doors. The Mrs South Africa journey presented that opportunity for me, it opened up my eyes to the limitless potential that lies within, " she says.
"It enhanced my courage to dig into my inner strength because everything that we ever desire is locked up in us only if we have the courage to reach down and get it to work for our good into opening external doors" she adds.
"Our story often sounds almost coincidental but we believe that God orders our steps. We took the bus together in high school but never interacted, about a decade later we met again at the Mrs South Africa pageant and we were almost inseparable from there, " says Trudy.
Impacting lives through entertainment
Their shared passion for the entertainment industry and their desire to tell authentic South African stories inspired them to join forces and establish a media company. Through company, T&T Entertainment, they produce their own lifestyle oriented talk show called The Catch Up Corner that shines the spotlight on South African women from all walks of life.
The talk show also highlights women who are doing phenomenal things in their respective fields of work.
This is how the two use their love for entertainment as a tool to start the conversation going.
"South Africans are consuming more local content and it’s amazing seeing and relating to people who are just like us, " she says.
Purpose in work
According to the two, the intention to educate, inspire and motivate audiences gives their show distinction.
Triumph asserts that so much is said about success and the glitz and glam lives of prominent individuals that the ordinary people working to change lives have almost become insignificant in modern day society.
“This show aims to bring to light the unspoken and hidden challenges of climbing that success ladder in any area of our lives, ” she says.
They say the future growth of the Catch Up Corner rests on its unique ability to celebrate the success whilst showcasing the struggles and challenges one has to endure to get there.
The show brings entertaining feature and experience for the viewer as a pose to traditional talk shows, we deliver our content/narrative in a relevant, relatable
and entertaining way by bringing in diverse headings/topics/storyline, characters and personalities to the show.
The catch up corner will be available to view on GauTV channel 265 on DStv.
Juggling despite Covid-19 challenges The Covid-19 pandemic has indeed redirected lives and it has become challenging for most, which the two list it as a cause of their challenge on their journey.
"Covid-19 has been a challenge especially with getting our shows off the ground but we’re grateful that we managed, " says Trudy.
In the midst of everything this pandemic has also taught us about life and strengthened their faith even more. "Tomorrow is not promised and that it is important to pursue our God given abilities and talents, because if not now then when? If not you then who?" .
They believe that through planning and delegation, it is no use to try to do everything at once and never master anything. "Someone can pick up the kids and make the groceries, there are no super moms but real moms, " that is how they juggle everything that they do effortlessly.
Triumps of the season
"From gracing covers, getting our shows picked up to hosting awards it all encourages us to keep moving and to not give up. These are actually very good reasons to aim even higher, ” says Triumph.
Everyone needs some sort of inspiration or motivation to give them an edge. One need to create their own success. And there is no doubt that Trudy and Triumph are truly motivated to be the women they are today.
Triumph says there are women who have gone before her and paid the price, neglected their own careers so that she can have one, neglected their happiness to nourish her own. "I have my grandmother in heaven who invested tons of prayers for my sake, their sacrifices cannot be in vain. I owe it to them to be the best in all I do, "
she adds.
Sound Advice:
Triumph: Stop stopping yourself, because you are enough. It is important to note that nobody is coming to save you so must stand up and make it happen. You are more capable than what you give yourself credit for.
Trudy: Keep on showing up for yourself, we cannot leave the course of our-lives and destiny to chance, nobody saves us but ourselves, only we and we alone can walk the path to becoming anything that we dream of becoming.
