- Who is Bianca Bezuidenhout?
I am a 22 year old proudly South African entrepreneur, speaker and business owner of a swimwear company called She Succeeds. I was born in Newcastle Kwazulu Natal and matriculated in Bloemfontein in 2017. After obtaining my BA degree in Marketing Communications in 2020, I decided to pursue a childhood dream and became one of the youngest contestants to make it to the Top 5 of Miss South Africa 2021. In my spare time, I’m also a Zumba dance instructor where I bring people together through dance and celebrate health, fitness and unity. Through my love and passion for community work, I’m also an Ambassador and Head of Marketing for a non-profit organization called Forward Foundation where I get to form part of a mission to move South Africa forward, faster.
- How does a normal day look like for Bianca Bezuidenhout?
I start my day with an early workout session, healthy breakfast and plan my day ahead. During the day, I spend most of my time building my swimwear brand, and the rest of my time, I dedicate towards working as the Head of Marketing for Forward Foundation. During the week I also make time to lead and minister a group of people to live a more purposeful life. When I’m not working, I love to cook, read, and dance. My weekend plans usually contain outdoor activities or bringing friends and family together with good food and fun board games.
- What made you start the She Succeeds store?
It all started in 2018 when I moved to Cape Town in the summertime. I recognized a gap in the swimwear market after spending countless hours searching for sustainable and elegant swimwear suitable for my body type. She Succeeds was born in that exact moment as I believe every woman should feel SHE; Sexy, Healthy and Elegant which also lead to the inspiration behind our brand name. Today, with an all female workforce, She Succeeds supports employee well-being, diversity and inclusion efforts. Sustainability and adding value to our community and environment is also at the core of everything that we do. From our packaging to labels, we locally design and manufacture all our swimwear pieces from sustainable fabrics, recyclable materials and eco friendly fibers. Our signature style combines elegant designs suitable for all body types and celebrates the diverse beauty of all women. Our mission is to change the world in style, one bikini at a time.
- Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
As a dreamer at heart, I’m always ready for the next adventure, but I’ve also come to understand the beauty of being content with where I am. I am immensely grateful for every opportunity and person I get to share my life with and I’m extremely hopeful for what the future holds. In the next 5 years I would hope to build She Succeeds as the leading swimwear company in South Africa and master my skills in leadership, communication and entrepreneurship. I’m also in the process of writing my first book, called “Buried to Blossom” which I’m planning to launch in the next few years. With a passion for meeting new people, building communities and grasping every opportunity presented, who knows what the future might hold. Only time will tell.
- Some advice to all the young people and young women who look up to you?
I would like to encourage every young person to understand the power of their voice. Don’t disqualify yourself, the world needs your voice. Excuses will always be there, opportunities won’t. Therefore, it’s imperative that we use every opportunity to stand up, speak up and show up. Your voice has the power to echo a message of hope, peace and love. Your voice has the potential to travel to every corner of the world. Your voice matters.
