Contortionist twists and bends like no body’s business
She grew up shaking and bending her body, something which children of her age were unable to do.
Petal Palesa Mokone (24) is one of the few self-taught contortionists from the province.
The 24-year-old from Matenteng Village in deep rural Bushbuckridge Local Municipality realised that she can flex her body without harming any of her joints at the age of eight.
“Growing up I realised that I can bend in both possible and impossible ways. Doing my research I found that this was one-of-a-kind talent,” she said.
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Mokone teaches children from her home village how to bend without harming themselves. Her dream is to register her own academy where she can professionally train and teach other would-be contortionists.
She also wishes to be an ambassador for a number of sneaker manufacturers as their comfortable footwear enable her to flex her body without any stress.
Mokone is inspired by Nina Burri, a professional contortionist and model from Bern, Switzerland, and Sofie Dossi, a self-taught contortionist and hand balancer.
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Mokone said she wishes to fight the stigma associated with contortionism.
“I wish I can fight the mentality that most men, whenever they see a woman stretching or doing a contortion, only think of sex.”
Mokone is also the brand influencer of Torha Water, recently launched by young entrepreneur, Jubilation Magagule.
