When life gave her lemons, she made lemon meringue pie! For years, Ianthe Froneman did what she had to do – and made the best of it. Until she could do what she wanted to do. A sweet, sweet story of success!
Ianthe Froneman never had the opportunity to further her studies after school. So she entered the corporate world with nothing more than a determined mind and a strong will. Then, after more than two decades of hustling, she finally took a leap of faith.
She opened Ianthe’s Coffee Café – a beautifully tranquil tea garden and venue hire facility, with a nail studio, car wash and garden centre, all in one place. Serving up the most delish cakes, breakfasts, burgers, tramezzini’s and more.
“There’s not much time for anything else when working in the corporate industry and I simply wasn’t growing as a person. And having been a single mother, I couldn’t just quit and start all over again. I first had to make sure both my children are looked after.”
So, a few years later, when the time, finances and resources finally aligned, Ianthe didn’t hesitate for a second to qualify herself as an image consultant, make-up artist, lash extensionist and microblading artist. A life-long dream come true!
On top of that, she did the most spontaneous thing she’d ever done and entered Mrs Universe South Africa 2019, and much to her surprise, got crowned the winner. For the first time, Ianthe felt like she was walking on air. Then came Covid.
“Little did we know the pandemic would hit us only a few months later, leaving me with no job opportunities due to the crippling economy. But, I had to get back up again, and that’s when I used what I had, and opened a drive thru coffee counter. Since then, the shop evolved into what it is today.
“I also wanted to make sure I have multiple streams of income. And so, I am extremely lucky to be freelancing as a make-up artist. It is my comfort zone, my me-time and my therapy. I just love doing it and even plan on hosting a few make-up and style workshops at our venue throughout the year.”
Although having admitted that leaving a stable job was extremely daunting, it was also the most freeing. Proof that you can achieve anything simply by believing in yourself. Being the busy bee she’s always been, Ianthe also hopes to launch a personal brand, FHT (Faith, Hope, Trust) Clothing – which will include her own range of clothing and accessories – in the near future.
And if you think she’s already juggling her fair share of balls, she adds another to the mix – helping those in need … from victim to survivor.
“I believe my calling is to uplift abused children, and women who come from abusive relationships, human trafficking situations or drug addiction. Because I know a side of abuse, this is my way of giving back to those who can’t find their voice.”
Hoping to reach as many victims as possible, Ianthe became the ambassador of Unchain Our Children – a non-profit that endeavours to assist in the combat against violations of human rights. She is also busy with a counselling accreditation course to help her best deal with these victims and their traumas.
When she can’t be at the forefront of such outreaches, Ianthe still likes to help out behind the scenes through blanket and food drives and supporting the destitute through her coffee shop.
But, what happens if a ball drops? Ianthe says it’s only human. “We are never perfect and there are never enough hours in a day. I remind myself that there are some things out of my control and that neither life, nor people are predictable. There will always be challenges – we must just learn to deal with it,”
When Ianthe is not at her coffee shop or helping support a worthy cause, she can be found unwinding in the kitchen, dancing – with ballroom dancing on her bucket list – and maybe even spicing up a room or two with her keen eye for interior design.
Ianthe’s always believed in ‘I can, I’m going to and I will’. So, when she doesn’t feel like going on, she remembers this, re-adjusts her crown and picks herself back up again. By doing this, she hopes to remind other women of their worth and what they are truly capable of.
Details: Visit Ianthe’s Coffee Café at 90 Braam Pretorius Street, Montana Park. Visit www.ianthescoffeecafe.bcard.mobi, follow @ianthecoffeecafe on Insta and @ianthe’scoffeecafe on Facebook.
Ianthe’s easy Easter dessert
Worked hard on that Easter dinner? You deserve a break for dessert!
Ianthe shares her gran’s fave five ingredient ‘Jode tert’ recipe. It’s quick, easy and sure to wow your guests!
You’ll need:
1 can condensed milk, 1 packet Marie biscuits, 100ml lemon juice, 500ml thick lukewarm custard, 125ml stiff whipped cream
To make:
Mix condensed milk and lemon juice. Pack first layer of biscuits in a tart dish. Spread a layer of whipped cream, followed by a layer of condensed milk. Repeat layers and finish with a layer of condensed milk, and cream. Chill for about 30 minutes. Enjoy!
SIX WAYS TO RISE ABOVE YOUR FEARS
- Positive mindset – Positive thinking isn’t magic and it won’t make all of your problems disappear. What it will do is make problems seem more manageable and help you approach hardships in a more positive and productive way.
- Believe in yourself – This means having faith in your own capabilities. It means believing that you CAN do something. When you believe in yourself, you can overcome self-doubt and have the confidence to take action and get things done.
- Identify your source of fear – A sure way to overcoming your fears and anxieties is in finding the source of your fears and being able to manage it. Knowing what is causing your anxieties can go a long way in finding the solution.
- Focus on the present – Living in the present moment means no longer worrying about what happened in the past and not fearing what will happen in the future. It means enjoying what’s happening now and living for today.
- Take action with a leap of faith – Taking a leap of faith and throwing yourself into the unknown can be very rewarding. It means that you fully surrender to all expectations that you and others have ever had of yourself. It means that you allow yourself to start anew and feel completely free.
- Love yourself first – In reality, loving yourself requires a lot of hard work. You have to look at yourself, truly and deeply – including the bits of yourself that you’d rather not think about. And then you have to find a way to not just accept those things, but honour and love them.
Text: ALANICKA LOTRIET. • Photographer: JACO BOTHMA. • Make-up and hair: HEIDIE FOURIE VERTUE. • Dress: LA VIE EN FLEUR.
