When Suzanne De Jongh strides into her Body20 studio in Klerksdorp, the energy in the room shifts. She’s all warmth, laughter and purpose – a woman who’s built not just a thriving business but a movement that’s changing lives, starting with her own. Suzanne is living proof of what’s possible when you decide to rewrite your story and become your own hero.
The Key To Finding Fulfilment
On paper, Suzanne had it all – a dedicated mother, a loving wife and a successful professional. But beneath the surface, she was struggling to find fulfilment and balance in her life.
“On paper, I had it all,” she recalls. “But I was exhausted and quietly unfulfilled. There was always another glass ceiling, another layer of politics, and as a woman, I felt it acutely.”
Her breaking point came after a difficult divorce – the kind of separation that leaves you questioning who you are and what’s next. “I realised I’d spent my life putting everyone else first; my colleagues, my family, my marriage. After the divorce, I was forced to look at myself and ask: ‘What do I actually want?’
READ MORE: You’re Getting Divorced. What Happens To The Pension Fund?
Discovering Her Turning Point
The answer came unexpectedly when Suzanne stumbled upon a Body20 EMS demo. For the uninitiated, EMS involves a 20-minute electrical muscle stimulation promising the results of a full gym session. She was deeply sceptical, but curious enough to try. “I was blown away. That twenty-minute session did more for me than hours in the gym ever did,” she laughs.
She didn’t just sign up – she went all in. Suzanne invested her pension, her time and her heart into opening her own Body20 studio in Klerksdorp. Many called it foolish, but for Suzanne, it was the first step towards reclaiming her life.
“I put everything I had into the studio. The early days were tough. I didn’t pay myself a salary, I worked seven days a week, but I was finally building something that mattered to me.”
Creating A Community, Not Just A Gym
“Most of my clients are women over 40 – perimenopausal, menopausal or just overwhelmed by life’s demands. What they need most isn’t just a workout. They need support, education and a community that gets it.”
Her studio quickly became a haven for women who felt overlooked by traditional gyms. “We’re not just changing bodies – we’re changing mindsets. Women come in thinking it’s too late for them, that their best years are behind them. But once they start feeling stronger, everything shifts – their confidence, their relationships, even their careers.”
At her Body20 studio, the focus goes beyond efficient EMS workouts. Members start with an InBody scan that tracks muscle, fat, water and mineral levels. Certified coaches tailor sessions to each person’s needs, and nutritionists create personalised meal plans to support goals. The result? A holistic, community-driven approach that helps women thrive physically and emotionally.
READ MORE: “How I Got Healthy And Fit By Ditching The Scale”
Why Balancing Your Career And Health Is Important
After months of 16-hour days building her business and launching a second venture, Suzanne realised she was neglecting her own health. “I realised I couldn’t just tell my clients what to do, I had to do it myself.”
So, on 1 August 2024, she began her own transformation alongside her clients. “I wanted to go through what the members go through,” she says. “Many women think it’s easy when you’re younger, but harder when you’re older. I wanted to understand the process, especially the eating, which is often the hardest.”
Initially, she weighed 67.3kgs, with 30.1% body fat and 26.3kgs muscle. A year later, she’d dropped 14kgs of fat, weighing 59kgs with 30kgs of muscle and just 10% body fat.
Her physical transformation is symbolic of something deeper – proof that life after divorce for women can be powerful, fulfilling and full of second chances.
A Fitness Journey To Inspire Others
Competing had always been a dream. And exactly a year later, she stepped on stage at the Puma Classic, followed by the Welkom Classic, soon after earning her pro card at the Fire and Ice competition.
“The message is simple: you can do anything you put your mind to, no matter your age. I started at 50, and by 51, I was competing on stage. It’s never too late to begin.”
But Suzanne’s journey isn’t just about muscle and medals. It’s also about healing emotionally, spiritually and mentally. The pain of divorce, years of people-pleasing and her own harsh inner critic forced her to confront herself and do the deeper work of self-love and acceptance. “Self-love isn’t bubble baths and spa days. It’s waking up every day and choosing yourself, even when it’s hard. It’s looking at yourself with compassion instead of criticism.”
She is candid about the challenges. “Some days, you’re going to fall apart. But the beauty is in getting back up, in asking for help and in finding your tribe.”
“When women start eating enough and training smart, their bodies respond in powerful ways. It’s about thriving, not depriving.”
READ MORE: “How I Got Fit And Healthy After Pregnancy Weight Gain”
Suzanne’s 3 Principles For A Successful Strength Transformation
1. Education Is As Vital As Exercise
Suzanne is passionate about debunking nutrition myths, especially those targeting women. “Diet culture tells us to eat less, do more especially as we age. It’s nonsense. Most women who come here are under-eating, over-stressed and wondering why nothing changes. We teach them to fuel their bodies, to eat for energy and strength not just for the scale.”
2. Start small
“Don’t wait for the perfect moment, it doesn’t exist. Find a community, ask for help, and don’t be afraid to fail. Transformation is a journey, not a finish line. You become stronger with every step.”
3. Put Yourself First
Not out of selfishness, but out of necessity. “You can’t pour from an empty cup. The best thing you can do for your family, your work, and your future is to invest in yourself.”
There’s Life After Divorce
Looking ahead, Suzanne hopes her story inspires other women to take control of their lives – at any age and in any circumstance. “You are allowed to change. You are allowed to want more. And you are allowed to go after it, unapologetically.”
As Body20 Franchisee of the Year, a bodybuilding champion, and by her own definition, a work in progress, Suzanne is proof that the best chapters can begin later in life. Her journey is a rallying cry for women everywhere: strength is not just in the body, but in the courage to begin again.
