Thumé Pretorius

Age: 23
Lives: Klerksdorp

Fitness got me through one of the most difficult times of my life when I had a huge back operation a few years ago. I didn’t take it well at all. I felt depressed at times, unhappy with my looks, I felt uncomfortable in my own body and only saw the negative things in myself. I felt that I would never be good or pretty enough to pursue my dreams and achieve my goals in life. Thankfully, I have wonderful friends and family who stood by me and kept on motivating me to get up, show up and start doing what I love again, and to stop comparing myself to others and believe in myself. I changed my mindset, put in a lot of hard work and the results are just phenomenal! I am starting to accept myself, how I look and who I am more each day. I feel happy, positive and strong, mentally and physically after my workouts. My passion is to help other women achieve the same feeling of being happy and proud of yourself, how you look and feel and what you’ve accomplished. I want to support and motivate them, I want to show them that there’s nothing that can stop you from living a full life and achieving your goals if you set your mind to it. It doesn’t matter if you fall. What matters is that you get up and keep going because you are your only limit. 

Voting is now closed! The top 32 will be announced Monday 20 September at 13:00

How does fitness fit into your lifestyle?

Fitness was my lifeline. Fitness saved me. I’ve always been a busy body, playing netball, hockey, going to the gym, dancing, and horseback riding. I took a few bootcamp classes and went to the gym more often – that’s when I got hooked! I experienced this feeling of wanting more, doing more each time I worked out or went to the gym. It made me feel good about myself and like I have control. I workout twice a day, five times a week and adapted to a healthier lifestyle. 

What are your personal fitness goals?

My biggest personal fitness goal is to accept myself; accept that I am worthy, accept that I am strong, mentally and physically, accept that I am allowed to be proud of myself and how I feel and how I look. I want to be fit, healthy and happy with my lifestyle and the results I get from the work and time I put in daily. My second goal is just as important to me. It is to be an example, motivation, inspiration and a personal part of other women’s journeys who share the same struggles with self-acceptance and help them to achieve their own personal health and fitness goals. I would also love to be involved in the modelling and promotional sides of the fitness industry.