Former Miss South Africa, Liesl Laurie-Mthombeni, took to social media to share her personal struggles and reflections on societal expectations placed on women.
Liesl Lauri-Mthombeni opens up about how she was triggered by ‘Barbie’
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In a heartfelt Instagram caption, the radio presenter and wife of Dr Musa Mthombeni opened up about feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands and how the Barbie movie provided her with profound insights into the societal pressures placed on women.
“I woke up before 6 this morning feeling extremely overwhelmed by everything. I don’t know if it’s the last quarter of the year push or just general anxiety to ‘kill it’ at everything,” she wrote.
The Barbie movie, specifically Gloria’s (America Ferrera) monologue, struck a chord with Laurie-Mthombeni as it highlighted the seemingly impossible double standard faced by women:
“We have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong. You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin…”
Laurie-Mthombeni’s candid post resonated with many who face similar societal pressures and who appreciated her vulnerability in sharing her struggles.
“I resonated with many different parts of the monologue, and I’ve come to accept that some days will really just give you a moerse punch in the gut. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I show up 100% for work, gym, family time, etc., so today I’m showing up 100% to my crying session. Tomorrow? We shall see what tomorrow brings. We trust God for the joy He brings in the morning,” she concluded.
Liesl Laurie-Mthombeni, born on 24 December 1990, in Johannesburg, South Africa, gained prominence by winning the title of Miss South Africa in 2015.
Her journey to the crown was marked by hard work and determination, leading her to represent South Africa at the Miss World 2015 pageant in Sanya, China.
During her tenure as Miss South Africa, Laurie-Mthombeni participated in the Miss World 2015 competition, where she stood out as one of the Top 10 finalists and was crowned the Continental Queen of Africa, earning the highest placement among all African contestants.
In South Africa, there are many resourceful organisations that are ready to assist you and your loved one in dealing with mental health triggers. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) is the country’s largest mental health advocacy group, and their 24-hour hotline is free to use if you or a loved one needs help. You can reach them on 0800 456 789 (24 hours a day), SMS 31393, or visit their website for more info and help.