A month ago, if someone told us this would be the hardest job ever, we’d have laughed – hard. Seriously, how difficult could it be to pick twenty winners from hundreds of entries? Turns out, insanely tough! We’ve soaked in their stories and lived vicariously through their journeys. From the Women’s Health team, we thank everyone who participated in Cover Search 2024. It was extremely amazing to see the diverse walks of life and entries we received. Now it’s your turn to read what their breakthroughs and triumphs have taught them and why they want your vote.
Voting for the Top 20 is officially open and closes midday on the 31st of August 2024. Who will you select?
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Here are our Top 20 selections for 2024:
Nhlakanipho Mkongi
Nhlakanipho is a 23-year-old performing artist, model and aspiring photographer who values the importance of women’s health. Her fitness journey began in primary school, influenced by her athletics coach. Throughout her life, sports and the arts have been integral, helping her navigate physical and emotional changes. Nhlakanipho aims to inspire young women to embrace their growth and maintain a healthy lifestyle. For her, physical activities, especially dance and exercise, are essential for well-being and professional performance. Advocating for kindness to one’s body and mind are vital for Nhlakanipho.
Wardah Hartley
Wardah is a yoga teacher and fitness professional who owns a wellness company called Fabufit Yoga and Movement. A mom to a 7-year-old and married for 17 years, she loves baking, cooking and setting new challenges for herself, such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Initially working as a journalist and sports anchor, her fitness journey began after losing 17kg, leading her to pursue a full-time career in wellness. Having undergone multiple body transformations, Wardah emphasises the importance of reinvention and resilience, inspiring others to follow their passions regardless of setbacks.
Mishka Loesch
Mishka found her passion after the sudden loss of her mother to cancer at 23. Now a radio presenter on Good Hope FM, NLP Life Coach, digital content creator and fitness enthusiast, Mishka turned her grief into motivation. Her journey to health and fitness, which began with home workouts during a difficult period, is a testament to her strength. She aims to inspire those experiencing loss and grief, showing them that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Mishka’s story is about finding strength in adversity and choosing to live a healthier, happier life. “Grief is not the end.”
Micaela Clifford
As a fitness model with a deep passion for inspiring women to embrace health and fitness, Micaela transitioned from traditional modelling to fitness modelling seven years ago. She has since worked with top fitness brands, specialising in running shoots and travelling to incredible locations. Dedicated to advocating for health and fitness, Micaela trains rigorously, continuously learning new sports and striving to empower others through her work. Her lifestyle reflects her commitment and she believes in motivating others to be their best selves.
Oratiloe Matla
Oratiloe is a multifaceted woman, gracefully balancing her roles as a yoga teacher and psychometrist. Her holistic approach to health is rooted in various movement disciplines she has practised, including sprinting, hockey, ballet and yoga. Losing her father to cancer at a young age, Oratiloe turned to movement as a means of personal development and mental health support. She believes wellness should be accessible to everyone and aims to inspire intentional living through her journey.
Carly Swartz
Carly is a qualified personal trainer, group instructor and part-time model who transitioned from a career in business and recruitment to fitness during Covid. Documenting her home workouts on Instagram, she quickly gained a large following. Now, she works part-time at Virgin Active and runs her fitness business full-time. Carly’s mission is to inspire others to pursue their dreams and overcome insecurities through hard work and consistency.
Lelani Loots
Lelani began her fitness journey by starting an outdoor bootcamp for women in Witbank, growing it successfully before moving to Centurion and rebuilding her client base. Passionate about group training, she now runs two bootcamp venues with around 50 participants. Lelani enjoys CrossFit, outdoor activities, travelling and spending time with her dogs. She advocates for a healthy lifestyle without quick fixes, emphasising the importance of feeling good over appearance.
Anelisa & Asanele Sobekwa
Anelisa and Asanele advocate for a balanced approach to health and fitness, emphasising that exercise and nutrition should be enjoyable for sustainability. They believe in the importance of mental health and overall well-being, recognising that fitness is not one-size-fits-all. Their journey highlights the significance of personalising health routines to nourish both the mind and body, inspiring their audience to find joy in their fitness practices.
Caitlin Hood
Caitlin, known as “chommie,” is a wellness and fitness enthusiast with a passion for human connection. She overcame crippling anxiety and now thrives because of running and reformer Pilates. Caitlin’s journey includes conquering her first ultra marathons, such as the Total Sports Two Oceans 2024 and Comrades 2024, proving her inner strength. She is dedicated to making movement accessible to everyone, especially in communities with limited opportunities.
Chantal Cornelissen
Chantal is the owner of a pole and aerial studio in Cape Town, and is inspired daily by the women around her. A world champion in the Masters 40+ division of pole dancing, she aims to challenge the stigma around the sport. Chantal has travelled extensively, worked with Cirque du Soleil and performed stunts in major films. Her story is one of adventure and hard work, having built a successful career and business. Passionate about inspiring women, Chantal believes in following dreams and overcoming challenges to achieve success.
Cherie Fortuin
Cherie, a Capetonian, has always been passionate about health, despite gaining weight during university and experiencing relationship weight gain. After her mom’s passing and a career shift to fitness, she became a group exercise instructor at Virgin Active, losing 16kg in six months. Overworking led to health issues, prompting her to transition to a role as an assistant personal trainer and open her private practice, Nutri Move. “My journey has been rocky but I am super grateful for all of it because with everything that I have endured, I overcame it.”
Daniella Corder
Daniella, a 32-year-old certified personal trainer, specialises in menstrual cycle health and fitness coaching. She struggled with severe hormonal acne that led her to discover the benefits of eating and training according to her menstrual cycle. This approach transformed her health, improved her skin and overall well-being. Now, Daniella helps her clients achieve sustainable fitness goals by aligning routines with hormonal cycles. Passionate about educating women on menstrual health, she also enjoys reading, yoga, strength training and spending time with her rescue dog, Biscuit.
Jo Eleftheriou Keppler
Jo is an ultra runner and coach with a transformative back story. Emerging from the depths of addiction, she found salvation in running, starting her journey in 2019. Since then, running has illuminated her path to extraordinary achievements, such as setting course records in the scorching Tankwa Desert and conquering the rugged terrain of the Drakensberg Mountains, solo and unsupported. Jo’s mission now is to help others ignite their inner flame, guiding them to discover their potential and find joy through movement.
Kiara Govender
Kiara, a 28-year-old from Johannesburg, is a business owner, skincare and beauty formulator, yoga teacher and meditation facilitator. Growing up during financial struggles and battling anxiety and depression, yoga and meditation became her lifeline. Emphasising holistic wellness, Kiara believes in nurturing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of life. Through her business, The Urban Geisha. She loves sharing her healing journey, helping others balance bodies and minds.
Leah van Niekerk
Leah is a South African singer, presenter and actress who has always been active in sports and dance. Despite facing bullying for being thin, Leah maintained a positive outlook on life. At 37, she feels her best and is determined to inspire others with her positivity. Leah’s journey reflects her commitment to overcoming mental health challenges and embracing life to the fullest. Having appeared on various magazine covers, her ultimate goal is to be featured on Women’s Health.
Juli Kleinhans
Juli is a 24-year-old personal trainer, content creator and owner of the Gutsy fitness app. She is passionate about helping women overcome fear and find purpose through fitness. Juli’s holistic approach to health and wellness includes physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Her journey encompasses challenges like athletics, hiking and completing an Ironman 70.3 race. Juli’s dream is to create a supportive space for women to grow and celebrate their health, showing that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things with courage and perseverance.
Simone Martin
Simone is a 47-year-old personal trainer and pancreatic cancer survivor who runs a successful private gym, Grit & Grace Fitness. Specialising in women’s strength and fitness, she offers personal training, bootcamp sessions and online group training to over 100 dedicated women. Simone’s experience with cancer has instilled a belief that anything is possible with the right mindset.
Lida Aiyana Versfeld
Lida, a 20-year-old from Pretoria now in Cape Town, has pursued wellness from a young age, driven by a challenging upbringing. Despite battling depression and an eating disorder, Lida found strength through her faith and commitment to self-care. She now focuses on nurturing her mental, physical and spiritual health, aiming to inspire others to overcome hardships and achieve their goals.
Nondumiso Fatyela
Known as “The Marchwolf” and the ultimate hype girl, Nondumiso radiates energy and positivity, channelling her passion for fitness through hiking, netball, padel and gym workouts. Beauty, for her, is about feeling good and finding confidence in her own skin. Eager to step out of her comfort zone, Nondumiso embraces new challenges and hobbies with enthusiasm.
Juls Meintjes
Juls is a 43-year-old mother of two and wife, dedicated to helping women improve their lives through fitness, skincare and make-up. Co-founder of THE DAILY J and JEFF FITNESS, which was launched during lockdown, she is passionate about encouraging women to strive for greatness. With a small business called THE MAKEUP LOUNGE, Juls teaches practical beauty habits. Her dream of being on the Women’s Health cover has been 14 years in the making and she is excited to share her journey.
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