August's theme of Women Empowerment is in full swing! Every Friday this month you can expect an interview with another #girlboss and get to know what keeps these Queens motivated to do the mostest! This week we chat to Shenai Bridglall, a female entrepreneur running an NPO, who will soon also be launching a new venture in the fashion industry, her footwear brand called Shenai Briglall.
1. Who are the #girlbosses in your life that you look up to most?
Definitely my mom. She’s taught me to worry less about fitting into glass slippers and more about shattering glass ceilings.
2. Who is your favourite female fictional character and why?
Cinderella, she made me realize that it’s okay to be a princess but every girl should know that she’s also fully capable of building her own castle.
3. If you could spend a day in the life of any woman (dead or alive) who would it be?
Emma Watson, she is incredibly talented, versatile and intelligent. I’ve seen her grow from every Harry Potter movie I’ve watched to her becoming a UN Goodwill Ambassador and the face of the #HeForSheCampaign. I find it truly admirable that she used her fame as a tool to inspire and educate people.
4. The big question, do you identify as a feminist? Why or why not?
Feminism... my second favourite F word (my first is food just to clarify). Of course I’m a feminist; and no, I don’t hate men! I think people see feminism as this dirty word and feminists are usually looked down upon because people don’t fully understand what being a feminist means. Feminism means ‘the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of BOTH the sexes.’ If you believe that everyone should be afforded the same opportunities in life, irrespective of their gender, then you’re a feminist too.
5. You founded a nonprofit called The EssBee Foundation. Can you tell us more about that?
I started The EssBee Foundation to reduce the generational poverty gap of women in South Africa and provide girls with the resources to become somebodies instead of somebody’s. Our events focus on four central pillars: education, nutrition, personal hygiene and women empowerment. We have grown incredibly since inception in 2016; currently operating in Cape Town, Durban, Port Shepstone and Johannesburg with approximately 40 dedicated volunteers around the country.
6. Nowadays, the hot topic tends to be how to find the balance between work life and more domesticated family life. Do you see yourself choosing between the two?
The most important career choice that a woman makes in her life is who she chooses to marry. Society seems to put more pressure on women to find a man than on men to first be a man; this needs to stop. When your spouse respects and is fully supportive of you and your career, there should never be an ultimatum.
7. What advice do you have for aspiring female entrepreneurs?
A woman should never be delimited from pursing her dreams based on the grounds that ‘a girl can’t do that.’ Believe in yourself and your potential, work hard and be the girl of your dreams and the woman that you needed as a girl.
8. Tell us a bit more about yourself?
I’m just a small town girl with big city dreams.
I grew up and schooled in Port Shepstone. Upon matriculation I relocated to Cape Town to complete a Bachelor of Business Science in marketing, statistics and economics from the University of Cape Town. I worked at Google in South Africa and Singapore before pursing the fashion industry and working at TFG. I then relocated to Italy where I completed a Postgraduate qualification in footwear and bag technology from Polimoda as well as sourced manufacturers for my luxury women’s footwear company that I will be launching soon. I returned to South Africa last year to complete my Master of Business Science.
In the midst of my education, work experiences and running The EssBee Foundation, I was a commercial model signed with an international agency and I entered Miss South Africa 2017 before retiring from the modeling world.
9. If you could give your 13 year old self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Be patient; good things take time. You need to strive to be a lifetime in the making, not an overnight success.
10. Lastly, where can we find you?
Personal accounts
Instagram, FB & Twitter: @lifeofshenai
NPO accounts
Instagram & FB: @theessbeefoundation
Website: https://essbee.org
Company accounts
Instagram, FB & Twitter: @shenaibridglall
Website: https://shenaibridglall.com
Read last week's interview with blogger and actress, Sheena Deepnarain.
Read last week's interview with blogger and actress, Sheena Deepnarain.
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