Meet Mapule, SA’s queen of fitness

Finding the perfect balance between beauty and muscle, Mapule Ndhlovu, better known by her many followers on social media platform Instagram as @Queenfitnass, is fast becoming one of the leaders of the women’s fitness campaign.

Born in Alexandra, this vibrant gym fanatic has reinvented what body toning and shaping is to the average Joe. Having graced the cover of fitness magazine Women’s Health and landed endorsements from leading brands like adidas and Shield, Ndhlovu is living her best life in the body she has always dreamt of.

Her journey to fitness happened by accident as she found herself without employment after completing matric. Ndhlovu sought solace in getting fit, running in the mornings and evenings, as well as getting involved in community aerobic classes.

“Fitness was the last thing in my mind. I mean, growing up in Alex, health and fitness is not something that one is really exposed to.

“Running to me was an emotional release and I decided to join the aerobics class in one of the local gyms in Alex, just to keep myself busy.

“In March 2012, when the Institute of Fitness Professionals (IFP) spotted me in Alex during their visit to one of the local gyms, they saw potential in me while I was doing aerobics. I was offered a scholarship to study exercise science. Fitness has been part of my lifestyle since then.”

Slowly developing a passion for fitness, the Instagram sensation was offered a job at Virgin Active, as well as an opportunity to further her studies in sports management, which also gave her the competitive advantage among her peers.

Ndhlovu has built a brand for herself and has worked with celebrities and personalities like actress Amanda DuPont, Touch Central radio host Rorisang Thandekiso and Neo Kgolane. Follow Mapule Ndhlovu on her Instagram page @Queenfitass