Live like a lady

That’s one view: collected here are the opinions of a range of famous South African women.

1. We are emotional creatures. We are strong creatures. Mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers. We are a force field to be reckoned with. I am a woman and I love every minute of it. – Sade Giliberti, TV and radio personality

Sade Giliberti

2. What I love most about being a woman is the unspoken power we have. It’s not by physical force that we show strength but rather by the inner strength and security we possess. – Jay Anstey, actress

Jay Anstey

3. We are not only African women, we are South African women. We have survived against all odds. We are strong and we are powerful. Thank you to all the gogos and mamas of this country. Because of your pain, we have the opportunity to live in lovely South Africa. As women we have the right to feel beautiful. Beauty is one of the rare things that leads to faith in God. There are as many kinds of beauty as there are habitual ways of seeking happiness. – Brumilda van Rensburg, actress

Brumilda van Rensburg

4. My femininity makes me sensitive to certain things and situations. I love it, whether it’s simple or superficial – like being able to dress up and being pampered – or more serious and deep. I feel especially privileged by the fact that I could be a mother one day. – Filipa Carmo da Silva, singer

Filipa Carmo da Silva

5. I love being a woman because I can be a mother and a diva at the same time. I love to show people that a woman can do anything that a man can. – Lady Lea, DJ

Lady Lea

6. Behind every successful woman is herself. Every woman should know this and believe it. I’ve never limited my goals and dreams just because I happen to be a female, and I happen to love being a woman. My mother raised three amazing daughters by herself without a day’s complaint. I was taught that I can do whatever I put my mind to, not just because I’m a woman, but because I’m a human being. – Shimmy Isaacs, comedian

7. I love the strength and resilience of women, often in the face of serious difficulties. Being immersed in the world of news means I get to see this on a daily basis in the news stories we cover. As women, we shouldn’t be afraid of embracing our strengths while at the same time also allowing the world to see our nurturing or softer side. – Katy Katopodis, editor in chief at Eyewitness News

8. Katy Katopodis