GLAMOUR’s highly anticipated Mother’s Day Celebration Event was nothing short of magical. Held at The Garden Venue, a lush, tranquil oasis tucked away in North Riding. The day unfolded as a heartfelt tribute to the multifaceted journey of motherhood.
Women from across the country gathered for a day of empowering fireside chats, meaningful connections, and curated experiences designed to uplift, inspire, and spark conversation. With a chic black and white theme accented by pops of pink, guests showed up in style — a true fashion moment. J’adore kept the glasses full and the energy high, setting the tone for a day of celebration.
Hosted by GLAMOUR’s Editor-in-Chief, Nontando Mposo, who opened the day with a powerful fireside chat alongside media personality and singer, Nandi Madida. In a refreshingly honest conversation, Nandi spoke candidly about being a mother to two children on the autism spectrum, sharing how ADHD is not a limitation, but rather a unique lens through which children can thrive. She also opened up about her experience hosting The Motherhood Network Podcast, a space she created for honest conversations around parenting, community, and care. Her insights resonated deeply with the audience, leaving the room enlightened and inspired.
The event featured a makeup masterclass by Benefit Cosmetics, an interactive Q&A segment hosted by GLAMOUR’s Features Editor, Thobeka Phanyeko, as part of the GLAMOUR Book Club, and an emotional conversation with author Moshitadi Lehlomela, writer of the poignant memoir The Girl Who Survived Her Mother.
Another moving fireside chat featured former Miss South Africa and philanthropist Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala alongside Motherkind founder Rechelle Kloeck. In a deeply reflective conversation, they spoke about the evolution of their motherhood journeys and encouraged the audience to lean into the beauty, challenges, and lessons of parenting.
Key sponsor SPAR was represented by Maxine D’Amico, Promotions & Advertising Manager, who reaffirmed the brand’s commitment to social responsibility and women empowerment. She shared more about SPAR’s new campaign, #MySPAR #MyJozi, which celebrates community and connection — values deeply aligned with GLAMOUR’s ethos.
A standout moment came during the GLAMOUR Book Club session as Thobeka Phanyeko and Moshitadi Lehlomela delved into the complexities of the mother wound. The emotional inheritance often carried across generations. With remarkable vulnerability, Moshitadi shared how writing her memoir became an act of healing, affirming the importance of acknowledging hidden emotional scars and the path to thriving through conscious healing.
The afternoon reached its emotional peak with the surprise reveal of GLAMOUR’s digital cover, featuring none other than Portia M, the trailblazing founder of one of Africa’s leading skincare brands. In her own words, “This moment means everything.” She reflected on her extraordinary journey — from a young girl in Limpopo dreaming under a marula tree to building a multimillion-rand beauty empire rooted in that very marula oil.
As the skies prepared for the sun to set over Joburg, the energy felt serendipitous — a sign that the universe had indeed aligned for a day filled with love, reflection, and celebration.
We are immensely grateful to our generous sponsors, including Korekt, Chateaux Gateaux, SPAR, Portia M, Motherkind, Benefit Cosmetics, Planet Fitness, J’adore, and all who helped bring the vision to life.
If we could bottle up the warmth, connection, and magic of the day, we would. But in the words of the late Dr. Maya Angelou: “Love liberates. So go.”
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