POET and motivational speaker Jessica Mbangeni's swimwear photos have divided social media.
In July 2023, the poet from Nqamakwe, Eastern Cape, uploaded her photos on social media wearing a swimsuit, and her fans flooded her page with compliments, and others lashed her for exposing her body.
On Sunday, 24 March, the poet broke the internet again with her swimwear.
Again, some people complimented her, while others made fun of her.
The poet said this was part of her journey in the heavyweight championship.
She said this is about an anti-bullying campaign against social media bullies.
The 47-year-old motivational speaker told Daily Sun that growing up she was bullied because she was overweight.
She said that her confidence was shattered because she was always excluded from sports, indigenous games, and arts activities.
"In the music industry, it's worse. I had to major in poetry because they said I had to consider slimming or going under the knife if I wanted to make it as a solo artist."
Jessica said overweight people are humans and have rights too.
"I began to be sicker as I trained and went on magazine-prescribed diets. Because my role model was Oprah, I found a friend who is a homeopathic therapist in Australia.
"She recommended a lymphatic drainage massage and homeopathic therapy for holistic wellness," she said.
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Jessica said it had been a journey that led her back to the gym, where she found a personal trainer, Ann Jones, a wellness coach.
"Her assessment and wellness programme aligns with my lymphatic drainage therapist, homeopathic doctors, and general practitioner. I was sick in 2021 when the mainstream diagnosis said I had diabetes and high blood pressure.
"It had resulted in a plaque of toxins for many years, and now it triggers various diseases like colon cancer and breast cancer. In 2021, I couldn't breathe, I suffered from broncopneumonia," Jessica said.
She said her voice was gone and had an engagement to speak at Rahima Moosa Hospital as an ambassador of the Hospital and rushed to the Nelson Mandela Foundation Annual Lecture.
"The doctors at the hospital resuscitated me. I was diagnosed with bronchopneumonia, and the hospital treated me with the support of my personal health coach, Ann Jones," she said.
Jessica's message to her bullies is that she needs more love through moral support and buying her products.
"This includes my upcoming album, World Peace, featuring Dr Kaden Lebray, a boxing coach and spiritual guru.
Be compassionate and kind to others," she said.
The poet said people must listen with love and understanding when she tells them her story.
Jessica said she has been mocked for wearing her tradition.
"It's hard, but I'm determined to win the victory over my health first. And want to enter international competitions as part of ongoing motivation."
