The double 800M champion Caster Semenya and face of Lux also known as the former Miss Universe , Zozibini Tunzi were hosted by Mpoomy Ledwaba the Lux Ally to talk about women empowerment and being bold and beautiful enough to be yourself on Mpoomy’s YouTube channel.
The 800M champion also gives an update on her European Court of Human Rights and her work with Athlete Ally.
Both stars have had to defend themselves from society and sometimes choose to say nothing.
When ask about the time she had to defend herself? Zozibini said, “such a smart girl, that’s why she is now Miss Universe.”
“If you are black you need to explain how you got to where you are. It is always and will always be there that a black child cannot just make it and become successful without connections or there is just something that made you get to where you are,” added Zozibini.
She goes on to add that Caster can relate to this as many have discredited her and still had to defend herself.
Zozibini, who is loved by many for being natural, shares how she wishes that she needs a hairstylist. When they send her a brief on what the schedule of the shoot will look like, they only mention the makeup and not how they will style her hair.
For Miss Universe she did her own hair, she had to prep and learn how to do her hair right the night before Miss Universe.
Zozibini feels that we still have a long way to go when it comes to the natural hairstylist department.
Caster Semenya who was excluded in 2018 by the World Athletics from running the 400m- 1,500m race unless she takes hormone drugs says her life changes at the age of five years when she got a whole lot of judgment, where she had to defend herself and show people that she is a girl as she played men sports.
“This has been a challenge for me ever since I lived”
“ It did not really affect me as I understood who I am, what I am about, what I want and where I am going,” added Caster.
The athlete went on to add that people need to understand that they need to stand up for themselves before they stand up for others.
Caster knew that this would come with all the criticism she received at the start of her career and warned her manager and legal team that the World’s Athletics are planning to get rid of them and they should.
The whole case has encouraged Caster to become a better person and stand for what is right and fight for any upcoming young girls who are athletes.
Caster has to learn the importance of loving herself.
“Coming from the rural area and living in the city, you need to know that people will tell you who they are, that’s when we all forget our roots which I will never forget. That is why I am fighting for who I am.”
Caster added this as a learning curve for her and people need to know their rights.
“I accepted myself, I know I am muscline, I have a deep voice and a barrel chest and I love being special,” added Caster.
The athlete addresses that she knows she is woman enough for this world and she has gained all the courage to fight for her rights and she is doing so for those who can’t be vocal of those who are going through the same thing.
Caster Semenya is a female competitor who is believed to have an intersex condition that causes her body to naturally produce testosterone at levels much higher than most women, and IAAF ruled that it gave her and other women with her condition an unfair advantage over other female competitors.
In 2021 LUX pledged their support toward Caster Semenya in her fight against the IAAF as she was banned to perform and defend her 800m world championship title without taking hormone altering drugs.
This has meant that Caster would be excluded in participating in races unless she takes drugs that suppress her natural hormones, this is rather unfair and LUX felt that something needed to be done to shine a spotlight on this injustice against Caster and with this in mind there was a launch of #Bornthisway.
Caster is still fighting the battle and LUX wanted to bring attention to this issue again through a YouTube event with Caster Semenya, LUX Brand Ambassador Zozibini Tunzi hosted by Mpoomy Ledwaba. Through this YouTube live we are building on the efforts from last year to ensure that Caster has all the support she needs to win this battle against the IAAF.
LUX has donated R350K towards Caster Semenya’s legal fees and are pleading that those who can and are in support of Caster should donate.
