The event, which is held annually to celebrate women for the role they played in the liberation struggle and for the role they continue to play in society, saw more than 700 women gathered at the Bloemfontein Campus’ Callie Human Centre on Thursday.

It was at this prestige event where women of all ages, different professions, from across all spectrums of society came together to uplift each other and celebrate womanhood. Referred to by many as the ‘imbokodo’ and ‘the real architects of society’, the hundreds of women were not only serenaded with beautiful musical performances and profound poetical quotes but were celebrated and inspired by the phenomenal 27-year-old former Miss World herself.

Delivering her keynote address, she not only aspired woman to be their true self, to embrace themselves, to acknowledge the power within themselves, to refrain from pressuring themselves to live up to “perfect” norms and standards set out by others, but to shine bright, remain phenomenal and be a beacon of hope for other women…

She further reminded her audience that “girls compete against each other, but women uplift one another”.

“I wouldn’t have been able to make it through life if it wasn’t for those women who uplifted me along the way. So, the quality of yourself as a woman depends on the quality of women around you. So, why do you want to steal something from them?” asked Rolene.

She further requested all the women at the event to “renew their minds”, to do an introspection on who they really are, and acknowledge that they do not have to be perfect but just do their best in everything.

OFM News