There is nothing unique about Marita Jordaan’s story. She is just an ordinary woman making extraordinary decisions every day.
Besides being a mother, wife, business owner, and ambassador for Catstreet Boutique in Meyersdal, Marita is also the Mrs SA brand ambassador, along with another finalist, Zelri Steyn, for the Southern African Animal Cancer Association (SAACA).
In her journey to be the best version of herself, her deeply-rooted values of authenticity, kindness, gratitude, respect, resilience, hard work, and excellence are her compass.
We chat with Marita about her life and journey in Mrs SA.
The meaning of love
Marita says that 1 Corinthians 13 explains it simplistically: ‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.’ For her, love is unconditional.
‘Unconditional positive regard, unconditional acceptance, unconditional support, unconditional in all aspects. It is not something we give because someone else deserves it, it is something we give because we choose to,’ she said.
She values family, friends, life, charity, and personal growth. In her mind, love is synonymous with motherhood, which she prioritises above all else. She most enjoys being a mom to two children and says that motherhood is many things, but it is not perfect.
‘Children are a mix of sweet and sour because they aren’t fully grown. So even the best of parents will have a mix of sweet and sour moments. It is a mix of beautiful and messy moments all rolled into one.’
She said that to enjoy motherhood, you must find joy in the chaos, because the chaos reminds you that you have them.
‘A mother has a profound and long-lasting impact on developing young children’s brains, teaching them the first lessons of love, shaping their consciences. You and I have an opportunity to influence the next generation by what we do as a mother every day.’ She deeply loves her friends and family.
‘Spending time with family and friends, laughing, and experiencing heart-felt moments with a loved one are all precious to me and give purpose to my life.’
It is important to her to have a positive effect on the lives of others, whether humans or pets. As a brand ambassador for SAACA, she wants to create awareness of the organisation and the valuable work they do. As the fourth of its kind in the world, SAACA fills the gap for animals with cancer in this country. Cancer is often seen as a human illness, but few know that animals are diagnosed and die of cancer, too.
‘Helping these animals is a feeling I can’t describe. We need to support more charities and causes as it can only make the world a better place.
‘No matter what life throws at you, you can decide what these events mean to you, and how you will integrate them into your life.
‘Everything that happens is subject to your interpretation of it. The life you live is, ultimately, the life you choose. Once you choose to focus on positive possibilities, they gradually become realities in your life,’ she said.
‘I am also in pursuit of personal mastery to grow into a better version of myself. I believe that my development and growth are key for me, my family, and the people I impact daily. I love living my truth every day,’ she said.
For her, it is important to discover and live your truth, not the truth of others, ‘Wherever your heart is, there you will find the reality that brings you to life.’
Being unstoppable
‘When I entered Mrs SA, I was on a quest to experiment with the awareness of my inner sparks and started pursuing them to see what results from it. I don’t have any pageantry background, I only did modelling for a few years in high school to gain more confidence.’
She even kept her entry into the pageant a secret until they were encouraged, during their first Mrs SA conference, to post about their journey on social media.
For most of her life, Marita has hidden in the shadows, making decisions from a place of fear and desperation.
‘Asking for permission. Waiting for validation. Trying to be perfect. I was stoppable. I was staring at the edge in self-doubt, with every excuse not to take the step. What if I fail? But, what if I fly?’
Choosing courage over fear, and following her inner sparks, brought her to her Mrs SA journey. It was a quest to unleash her potential to become fearlessly unstoppable.
‘My Mrs SA journey was life-transforming. Along with my first year of my Master’s in philosophy and leadership coaching studies, 2022 was a year of exponential growth.’
In her studies, she learnt about theories, models and techniques, which she applied to her Mrs SA journey. She called it her ‘self-discovery and self-development on steroids’.
‘I had an intense awareness of my growth during the journey. Although highly uncomfortable at the time, it was extremely satisfying.
‘This journey has shown me how I can be a voice of change, and show up as the strong, influential woman that I am. I’ve learnt that it is my imperfections that make me perfect. I have become strong, confident, fearless and unstoppable!
‘Although I didn’t win the crown, I gained from this journey more than can be explained in words.’
Marita was also offered an ambassadorship by Catstreet Boutique because of her Mrs SA journey.
‘At the end of this journey, I stand tall, strong, fearless and determined, knowing that it is my imperfection that makes me perfect.
‘My heart is filled with gratitude for the Mrs SA team. I’m also grateful to the sponsors for the opportunity to be their brand ambassador. I am forever grateful for my family’s unconditional love and support, which was the catalyst that accelerated my transformation into a better version of myself.’
This and that
Marita was born in Kimberley and is the youngest of three children. She moved around a lot because of her father’s work.
‘I was very fortunate to grow up in a healthy, happy family home, and my fondest childhood memories are about our annual family holidays with our caravan in Scottburgh (KZN).
‘These memories are a tapestry of love, fun and laughter: building sandcastles on the beach, eating ice cream, swimming in the sea, family walks on the beach at sunset, sitting on the rocks, mesmerised by the beauty of God’s creation, and feeling the water as the waves hit the rocks, and so many more.’
In 1998, she matriculated in Secunda and, a year later, she and her best friend, Lindi, left SA to work as au pairs in the USA.
‘I returned to South Africa and started my studies at the University of Pretoria in early 2000. My undergraduate studies and Honours degree were a combination of tourism management and accounting. After completing my degree, I had the opportunity to work in England.’
After working there for a year, she returned to South Africa and started a career in finance.
‘I worked as an accountant and tax specialist for 10 years. During this time, I obtained my Master’s degree in South African and International Taxation and registered with the SA Institute of Tax Practitioners as a master tax practitioner.
‘I worked as a tax consultant in 2016 and thereafter started my own tax company. Tax Fanatix was established with one vision – to help all taxpayers!’
Marita and her husband, Gerhard, have been married for 12 years and are the proud parents of Mikhe and Ruben.
‘Our family life is busy. Our daughter, Mikhe, is in Grade Five and my son, Ruben, is in Grade Three. They love sports and are involved in all sorts of activities at school.
‘We enjoy spending time with family and friends. We love being in nature, hiking, or just enjoying a picnic.
‘In the words of Maya Angelou: ‘I sustain myself with the love of family’.’
Text: ELZAAN PIENAAR. Photo: ALBERT BREDENHANN FROM PIXELPRO. Make Up: THE BEAUTYBRAND. Hair: CORNÉ FROM TOUCH OF STYLE.
