Determination, an engaging manner and a radiant smile led supermarket cashier Nelisiwe Mthethwa to the catwalk and become an ambassador for The Love Rebellion campaign.
‘It is a rare treasure on this earthly journey to be in a position to affect change, albeit in a small way, and I really believe that Neli’s story is beautiful. One of great courage, inherent faith and a light that shines so bright it obliterates adversity on its path.’
So says Karen Monk-Klijnstra, local fashion designer and initiator of The Love Rebellion – a project she started with the help of a handful of other willing Samaritans … one designed to inspire, empower and assist those who need and deserve it most.
‘I believe by divine intervention that both our lives were to change forever the day I met Neli, who, despite circumstance, was about to teach me a valuable lesson about grace,’ says Karen.
With the negative affect lockdown and the virus had in isolating people, Karen wanted to encourage and uplift people to operate in love, tell their stories, share anecdotes and beautiful images of real life and real love. This, then, was the start of The Love Rebellion Facebook page.
‘The idea behind The Love Rebellion is to run a weekly ‘Competition’ if you will, to capture moments, tell the story of love, not necessarily romantic love but all-encompassing love – between siblings, friends, mother and child, fathers and children, grandparents, transcending barriers and differences whether religious, political or forced divisions. Loved shared between animals, humans and animals, polar opposites, unexpected relationships.’
People submit their stories to the Love Rebellion Facebook page and whoever’s story touches the campaign judges the most, wins a makeover and photo shoot, which is not only a lovely spoil but also means capturing new beautiful memories. The winning entrants also become ambassadors of the campaign and their stories are shared on social media and will, potentially, be added to a book.
At a young age, Neli lost both her parents. She was then raised by her grandmother, who also later died, but despite it all she made a go of life, got through school and qualified for tertiary education through excelling and receiving bursaries. But in a single moment Neli’s world changed and she chose to rise above, without support, and prove to her unborn child that she had worth.
‘When I think about my daughter (Okhule), my one and only, I have tears. There are tears for the 19-year-old girl I was when I found out that I was pregnant; tears for the college I dropped out of in my first semester of a Marketing Management Course; and tears for the guy I fell in love with who broke my heart and trampled on my dreams. But, there are tears that far outweigh the reminders of the past, and those are tears of joy for the beautiful gift I was given… that of motherhood.’
As a single mother she was unable to continue her studies, so she got herself a job as a teller at Pick n Pay in Kloof, where she began to thrive. She was well received by a number of regular shoppers who began to acknowledge and feed off of her radiant smile and engaging manner.
Karen, as it turns out, was (and still is) one of the faces that passed through Neli’s till point regularly. ‘Being in fashion, I instantly pictured her on a catwalk, and so began the banter each time I saw her.
She always fobbed me off with a shy shrug, until one day I was working on a fundraising campaign for a children’s home and needed a magnificent model. Neli finally agreed to the publicity shoot.
‘It was a shoot that opened my eyes to the truth about this young woman and I came to realise just how much potential she has. I then suggested to Neli that she submit her story to The Love Rebellion.’
The judges, who are various role players involved in the shoot – Tilanie Grote (photographer), Tarae Paige Marsden (make up), Melinda Marx and Terry Scott (hair), Jenna Rhind (graphics) and Wendi Verhagen from Label M – believe Neli, along with other weekly winners, serve as an inspiration to others. They prove that anything is possible if you believe in your dreams and never give up on your goals.
In the days that followed, not only did Neli win the Love Rebellion prize and become the ambassador of the campaign, but another Good Samaritan became aware of Neli’s story and offered to pay for her to complete her studies part time.
Now this 26-year-old mum can keep her employment but also forge ahead to the next level of marketing and merchandising. Watch her fly!
CREDITS
Photo and creative direction: Tilanie Grote Photography
Fashion and creative direction: Karen Monk-Klijnstra
Make-up: Tarae Paige Marsden from Make my Day_Beauty
Hair: Melinda Marx from Terry Scott Hairfashion using Label M products
