This February, love takes on a deeper meaning as Mrs South Africa’s second princess, Talitha Oosthuizen, shows how love for family, purpose, and service can shape a powerful life journey.
When we think of love, we often think of romance but for Talitha Oosthuizen (43), love is something much deeper – it is love for family, love for service, love for purpose and love for living life fully.
Recently crowned Mrs South Africa second princess, Talitha’s journey is a powerful reminder that the greatest love story can be the one you live with intention.
Roots of love
Talitha grew up in Edenvale, where close family bonds shaped her early childhood. Her family later moved to a farm in Nigel, an experience that connected her deeply to nature and the outdoors.
Not long after, they returned to the East Rand, settling in Bedfordview, where Talitha completed her high school years.
Family played a defining role in who she became. She speaks with deep respect about her parents and the lessons they passed on.
‘If there’s one role model that planted seeds of leadership, service, and entrepreneurship, it would be my father,’ she shared.
‘He started his company in 1979, and it was a great leap of faith he took.’
Her mother was equally influential.
‘Yes, my father showed me the business side of things, but my mom certainly showed me the softer side of life – how to be nurturing and a woman of integrity.’
Talitha has been married for 15 years, and her husband remains one of her strongest pillars of support.
‘My husband is so supportive, he just lets me fly,’ she says. ‘He’s there when I have my moments; when I’m in the shadows he’s there to pick me up.’
Learning curves and building a career
After matric, Talitha planned to attend university and received a dance scholarship, as she is a trained dancer.
She spent six months there before leaving due to personal reasons. While this felt like a setback at the time, it opened a new door.
She went on to study beauty therapy, qualifying in the field and later owning her own salon. This chapter marked the beginning of her passion for empowering women. From there, her career took an unexpected turn into tourism.
In 2007, Talitha partnered with her brother-in-law to found Bush Whisper Expeditions, a tourism business offering tours and safaris across Southern and Eastern Africa.
‘I love our country and with most of our clients being international, I love showing them the beauty of Africa,’ she says. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the business faced challenges.
Instead of giving up, they adapted and launched Bush Whisper Apparel, specialising in locally produced Shweshwe products.
Between 2007 and 2022, Talitha faced profound personal loss, including the passing of her father.
‘When something drastic happens in my life, this is when I grow and where my strength lies,’ she says.
After his passing, she took over his construction company, a move that pushed her far outside her comfort zone.
‘It’s a construction company and I had to learn everything from scratch. I had to quickly learn and put on my big girl boots, as it still is a very male-dominated industry.’
She admits the experience was both overwhelming and exciting, and credits it with building her resilience. She is grateful to see the industry changing and encourages women to support one another. She also values the role the business plays in supporting agriculture in South Africa.
Talitha is a serial entrepreneur and works as co-owner of Bush Whisper Expeditions, a proudly South African Travel and Tourism Company and heads up several other businesses across different industries.
‘Although I had to learn the hard way, I’m grateful because entrepreneurs change people’s lives – that’s what we do.’
Love in action
Giving back is not an add-on to Talitha’s life; it is woven into her work. Through the Bush Whisper Foundation, a portion of profits from their soft toy range is used to do good.
The foundation employs disadvantaged women who create Shweshwe apparel, giving them skills and a sustainable income.
Funds are also distributed to Green Trax, which focuses on conservation and anti-poaching, and Shattering Shackles, an organisation combating human trafficking and GBV.
Talitha also supports Abraham Kriel Kinderhuis, a children’s home caring for children affected by GBV. She chose Shattering Shackles because it closely relates to her own personal experiences.
‘Advocating for these causes has been like a perfectly painted picture where I am able to help make a difference,’ she says. Talitha has openly shared about overcoming an eating disorder and later developing epilepsy.
Today, she speaks about it to help others. She believes that healing becomes meaningful when it gives hope to someone else.
From silence to strength
Pageantry was not always easy for Talitha. As a child, she modelled but experienced injustice, which affected her confidence. Her mother sent her for modelling classes, where she met Andrea Stelzer, a former Miss South Africa , who helped restore her self-belief.
At 17, Talitha won Model of the Year South Africa, which opened many doors. She later entered Miss South Africa, but admits she was not ready at the time.
After getting married, she entered Mrs South Africa for the first time in 2014. While she was unprepared, the experience taught her valuable lessons. When she entered again, everything changed.
‘From the moment I entered, I knew I was ready and born for this,’ she says.
‘Seeing my childhood dream come to life is a humbling and uplifting experience. ’For her, it was never about the crown.
‘There is a deeper reason, a why, and a greater purpose,’ she explains. ‘My mission is and will always be to empower women. I want to show women that it’s possible to find your voice and use it for good.’
She credits the Mrs South Africa platform for helping her step out of silence and into purpose.
Talitha is also an avid climber and adventurer, using physical challenges as metaphors for resilience. She has completed over 40 hiking trails across South Africa and Namibia, summited Mount Kilimanjaro on her father’s birthday in his honour, and even bungee-jumped.
In March, she will trek to Mount Everest Base Camp, carrying not only the South African flag, but the dreams of women everywhere. Her advice is that with courage and purpose, anything is possible.
A love greater than the crown
This February, love takes on a deeper meaning as Mrs South Africa’s second princess, Talitha Oosthuizen shows how love for family, purpose, and service can shape a powerful life journey.
When we think of love, we often think of romance but for Talitha Oosthuizen (43), love is something much deeper – it is love for family, love for service, love for purpose and love for living life fully. Recently crowned Mrs South Africa second princess, Talitha’s journey is a powerful reminder that the greatest love story can be the one you live with intention.
Roots of love
Talitha grew up in Edenvale, where close family bonds shaped her early childhood. Her family later moved to a farm in Nigel, an experience that connected her deeply to nature and the outdoors. Not long after, they returned to the East Rand, settling in Bedfordview, where Talitha completed her high school years.
Family played a defining role in who she became. She speaks with deep respect about her parents and the lessons they passed on.
‘If there’s one role model that planted seeds of leadership, service, and entrepreneurship, it would be my father,’ she shared.
‘He started his company in 1979, and it was a great leap of faith he took.’
Her mother was equally influential.
‘Yes, my father showed me the business side of things, but my mom certainly showed me the softer side of life – how to be nurturing and a woman of integrity.’
Talitha has been married for 15 years, and her husband remains one of her strongest pillars of support.
‘My husband is so supportive, he just lets me fly,’ she says. ‘He’s there when I have my moments; when I’m in the shadows, he’s there to pick me up.’
Learning curves and building a career
After matric, Talitha planned to attend university and received a dance scholarship, as she is a trained dancer. She spent six months there before leaving due to personal reasons. While this felt like a setback at the time, it opened a new door.
She went on to study beauty therapy, qualifying in the field and later owning her own salon. This chapter marked the beginning of her passion for empowering women. From there, her career took an unexpected turn into tourism.
In 2007, Talitha partnered with her brother-in-law to found Bush Whisper Expeditions, a tourism business offering tours and safaris across Southern and Eastern Africa.
‘I love our country and with most of our clients being international, I love showing them the beauty of Africa,’ she says. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, the business faced challenges. Instead of giving up, they adapted and launched Bush Whisper Apparel, specialising in locally produced Shweshwe products.
Between 2007 and 2022, Talitha faced profound personal loss, including the passing of her father.
‘When something drastic happens in my life, this is when I grow and where my strength lies,’ she says.
After his passing, she took over his construction company, a move that pushed her far outside her comfort zone.
‘It’s a construction company and I had to learn everything from scratch. I had to quickly learn and put on my big girl boots, as it still is a very male-dominated industry.’
She admits the experience was both overwhelming and exciting, and credits it with building her resilience. She is grateful to see the industry changing and encourages women to support one another. She also values the role the business plays in supporting agriculture in South Africa.
Talitha is a serial entrepreneur and works as co-owner of Bush Whisper Expeditions, a proudly South African Travel and Tourism Company and heads up several other businesses across different industries.
‘Although I had to learn the hard way, I’m grateful because entrepreneurs change people’s lives – that’s what we do.’
Love in action
Giving back is not an add-on to Talitha’s life; it is woven into her work. Through the Bush Whisper Foundation, a portion of profits from their soft toy range is used to do good. The foundation employs disadvantaged women who create Shweshwe apparel, giving them skills and a sustainable income.
Funds are also distributed to Green Trax, which focuses on conservation and anti-poaching, and Shattering Shackles, an organisation combating human trafficking and GBV. Talitha also supports Abraham Kriel Kinderhuis, a children’s home caring for children affected by GBV. She chose Shattering Shackles because it closely relates to her own personal experiences.
‘Advocating for these causes has been like a perfectly painted picture where I am able to help make a difference,’ she says. Talitha has openly shared about overcoming an eating disorder and later developing epilepsy. Today, she speaks about it to help others. She believes that healing becomes meaningful when it gives hope to someone else.
From silence to strength
Pageantry was not always easy for Talitha. As a child, she modelled but experienced injustice, which affected her confidence. Her mother sent her for modelling classes, where she met Andrea Stelzer, a former Miss South Africa , who helped restore her self-belief.
At 17, Talitha won Model of the Year South Africa, which opened many doors. She later entered Miss South Africa, but admits she was not ready at the time.
After getting married, she entered Mrs South Africa for the first time in 2014. While she was unprepared, the experience taught her valuable lessons. When she entered again, everything changed.
‘From the moment I entered, I knew I was ready and born for this,’ she says.
‘Seeing my childhood dream come to life is a humbling and uplifting experience. ’For her, it was never about the crown.
‘There is a deeper reason, a why, and a greater purpose,’ she explains. ‘My mission is and will always be to empower women. I want to show women that it’s possible to find your voice and use it for good.’
She credits the Mrs South Africa platform for helping her step out of silence and into purpose.
Talitha is also an avid climber and adventurer, using physical challenges as metaphors for resilience. She has completed over 40 hiking trails across South Africa and Namibia, summited Mount Kilimanjaro on her father’s birthday in his honour, and even bungee-jumped.
In March, she will trek to Mount Everest Base Camp, carrying not only the South African flag, but the dreams of women everywhere. Her advice is that with courage and purpose, anything is possible.
Text: DESNAY PETERSON. Photo: BRENDON CROFT. Make-up: CATRICE.
