“It is not easy to be confident enough to rock a bikini in public when you are is’dudla [plus-sized], but when I saw pictures from last year’s event I knew I would be comfortable in this space,” one of the guests at the second annual Iz’dudla Pool Party held at Zwide Dam said.
The platform provided by the event on Saturday afternoon gave Sithisa Sibidla the self-esteem she needed to show off her body without the fear of being shamed.
The body positivity and women empowerment event was hosted by Iz’dudla zaseBhayi – a group of 12 plus-size models who advocate for self-love and motivate women to accept and celebrate their body shapes and sizes.
Group founder Dineo Nelani said: “After I hosted last year’s party, people wanted another and we sparked a lot more interest after we formed the Iz’dudla ZaseBhayi page on Facebook.”
The Facebook page has more than 6,000 followers.
Women of different shapes and sizes at the party shared stories about being self-conscious and their struggles with low self-esteem.
One of the guests, Weza Sonamzi, said: “I stopped feeling self-conscious the minute I stepped into the venue. The atmosphere was very warm and welcoming. We [plus-size women] need more of these kinds of events in our lives.”
Iz’dudla ZaseBhayi was formed after the women met at 2017’s pool party.
They modelled Bay designer Kolly Seti’s plus-size garments at the Mandela Bay Fashion Week in October.
“We are trying to promote unity among women and do away with the idea that women don’t get along,” Nelani said.
“So, when I met strangers who are as confident as I am about their bodies at last year’s party, I got us together so we could all go out and teach other women, whatever their size, to love their bodies.”
But Nelani said Saturday’s event may have been her last in Port Elizabeth, because she is discouraged by the difficulties she faced in getting municipal approval to use the venue.
Nelani had invited a Johannesburg-based body positivity activist and plus-size model to speak at the event but cancelled the invitation when she could not get a confirmation letter to go ahead with the event at Zwide Dam.
“I only received [it] on Friday at 4.45pm – the day before the event – even though we had been in talks since early this year.
“The letter came with a list of conditions that included that we were not allowed to swim in the pool or bring in alcohol,” Nelani said.
Though the issues were eventually resolved, she said it was a draining experience.
“I am an unemployed graduate and all I am trying is to do good for the people, and as much as I and many other people want more of these events, I cannot promise another one.”