For Women’s Day, we’re turning the spotlight on the powerful voices behind the WH Cover Search entrants. We sifted through the hundreds of bios in each entry. One thing we found? The word ‘women’ popped up a whopping 681 times, ‘health’ came up 660 times and ‘inspire’ a solid 165 times.
Clearly, these aren’t just buzzwords – they’re the heartbeat of their stories, the core of why they do what they do. And we are here for every bit of it. We’ve compiled ten of the most compelling quotes/stories to share. Unsurprisingly, they’re all good and incredibly heartfelt.
Change Is Possible
“This year, I chose sobriety to become the best version of myself for my daughters and to show that change is possible. I’ve unlearned harmful habits, forgiven myself for past mistakes and transformed my life. Now, I experience no anxiety, sleep better, and my family and colleagues can rely on me. When I run on the treadmill at the gym, I feel stronger and more deserving than ever.”
Women Should Uplift And Support Each Other
“Growing up, I struggled with many insecurities and often felt as though I wasn’t good enough. This has fuelled my belief that no woman should ever feel unworthy and that we should all uplift and support each other as much as possible.”
Health Equals Happiness
“Being healthy has never been an option for me, it’s the only way I could keep my mental health at bay. As someone who struggles with depression, I have found that teaching and holding space for others is how I heal myself. When we take a little care of our health, we become happier and can be a better society. I want to live in a happy society – but it starts inward.”
Your Body Is Uniquely Perfect
“It breaks my heart knowing how many women look in the mirror and speak so negatively about themselves. The worst part is, these beliefs aren’t even theirs in the first place. They are passed down from society pressure, parents, coaches, peers, etc. What we hear as children we take in as our own and repeat these beliefs to ourselves – and they become our reality. I want the world to know they are beautiful, their body is uniquely perfect and the basis of everything is the relationship you have with yourself.”
You Can Be Anything You Want To Be
“I think it’s important for people to know that you can be a mom, an entrepreneur or a career woman and still inspire others, you don’t have to be one or the other.”
READ MORE: The July/August 2024 Issue Stories That Are Inspiring Our Editors Right Now
Age Is JUST A Number
“I want to show women that age is just a number, (I’m 52 now), you can do whatever you set your mind to. Taking care of yourself reflects in your body and can assist in keeping you healthy, making you look younger and keeping you strong. If you’re going through menopause, it is not debilitating. Also, no matter your look or body shape, we are all beautiful and unique in our own way, on this earth for a purpose and to love ourselves as we go about discovering and living this purpose.”
All It Takes Is Support, Confidence And Hope
“Entering this competition is my way of honouring my sister’s memory and sharing the invaluable lessons she taught me. I want to be a beacon of encouragement, showing that through support, confidence and hope, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges. My sister’s strength continues to motivate me every day, and I hope to inspire others to find their own inner strength and live their healthiest, fullest lives.”
You Can Rise Stronger
“I am a cancer thriver. After receiving treatment for breast cancer for a year, I was blessed to be given a second chance in life.
I believe when we have the courage to share our stories, we give others permission to either face theirs or share theirs. In sharing my story of overcoming the tough stuff in life, you can rise stronger. I would love to show women that we don’t have to define ourselves by the roles we hold but rather by who we truly want to be. Showing up perfectly imperfect.”
Your Story Is Your Power
“My message to women is simple: embrace your journey, remember your strength, and never stop moving forward. Always love yourself first. You are stronger than you think and your story is your power.”
READ MORE: Inspiring Quotes From Women’s Health Icons
Don’t Get Lost In The Noise – There Is Hope
“I think in a world so focused on aesthetics and appearances, it’s so important to remember that breast cancer survivors/warriors can also be aspirational humans. Just because I lost my breasts makes me no less a woman than anyone else! We need to lose the stigma attached to breast cancer and normalise people afflicted by this horrid disease. There is life after an earth-shattering diagnosis and you can regain yourself, identity and body!“
– Dominique Swart
