At 50, former model and Bloemfontein entrepreneur Lerato Desirée Twayi, affectionately known as Lee-Twi, is embracing a new chapter shaped by healing, self-discovery and the freedom to begin again.
Turning 50 was about more than celebrating another birthday. It was an opportunity to reflect on the woman she has become and the possibilities that still lie ahead.
Lerato marked the milestone with a photoshoot she describes as a rebirth. According to her, the photographs symbolised more than a moment in front of the camera.
“Turning 50 felt like a rebirth, it is a reminder that I still have the chance to rewrite my narrative. The photographs were a celebration of a woman who has lived, survived, healed and is still excited to achieve more, better and wiser,” she says.
It is a fitting reflection for someone whose life has unfolded in front of the camera in more ways than one.
Before social media became part of everyday life, Lerato built a name for herself in professional modelling, appearing in television adverts, fashion magazines and campaigns for brands such as Dark and Lovely and Isoplus. Her career placed her in an industry where appearance often took centre stage, but her understanding of beauty has changed over the years.
“Earlier in my life, beauty was strongly connected to appearance, modelling and being celebrated for being pretty. Today, I understand beauty as confidence, self-knowledge, resilience and the freedom to embrace every layer of who I have become,” she says.
Apart from modelling, Lerato explored entrepreneurship, owning a high-end fashion boutique in Bloemfontein for 13 years. It was another chapter in a life that brought opportunities, achievements and the realities that often remain hidden behind a polished public image.
“Behind the crowns were realities that people did not always see. From losing a child, miscarriages, losing siblings and a parent, losing a business and facing difficult seasons. The glamorous moments were only one part of a much bigger, more layered life.”
She says these experiences have shaped her understanding of never giving up in life.
“Those experiences taught me that resilience does not mean pretending everything is fine. Healing gave me permission to acknowledge what I had been through, reconnect with myself and understand that starting again is not failure – it is another chance.”
It is this perspective that has influenced how she sees this stage of her life.
“I found my way back by healing and reconnecting with the excited, self-driven girl who had always been there. Today, feeling beautiful and confident means being comfortable with my story, my age and the woman I have become through every experience.”
She adds the rediscovery also challenges the expectations often placed on women as they grow older. There can be pressure to have relationships, careers, families and personal ambitions neatly figured out by a certain age. When life takes a different direction, starting over can feel daunting.
She believes, however, that the 40s and 50s can offer an opportunity to reconsider those expectations and make room for new possibilities.
“Women are often taught that certain ages come with fixed expectations and that we should already have everything figured out. I believe our 40s and 50s can be a time of self-finding and reinvention. It is never too late to write a new narrative.”
In between, Lerato says the different roles she carries in her life, including being a wife, mother and entrepreneur have also shaped her.
“Being a wife, mother, entrepreneur and woman has shaped me through responsibility, love, loss and growth. Making space for Lerato means remembering the person behind the roles which is the excited, self-driven girl who still has dreams of her own.”
Alongside her own ambitions, Lerato hopes to use her experiences to create a safe space where women and young girls can speak openly about the challenges they face.
“This season feels like warmth, renewal and another beginning. I am giving myself room to explore more, achieve more and use my experiences to create a safe space where women and young girls can have honest conversations about life and its challenges.”
She understands why sharing the less polished parts of her story matters. Behind the everyday responsibilities and the expectation to remain strong, many women are navigating experiences they may not feel comfortable discussing.
“I want to share the less polished parts because women often carry difficult realities quietly while trying to appear strong. If my story can give even one girl or woman courage, hope or permission to start again, then sharing it has meaning.”
For women who feel they have lost themselves while navigating grief, responsibility or the expectations of others, Lerato believes there is still room to rediscover who they are.
“I would tell her that she has not lost her chance to become herself again. We can reinvent ourselves every day. My next chapter is about using my story, experience and renewed energy to create a safe space for women and girls to speak honestly and find hope,” she concludes.
Text and photographs: GYPSEENIA LION Make-up: BEAUTY & CO Hair: RK HAIR SERVICES Styling: KGALI RAMPAI Venue: Naval Hill
