Every so often we come across a bright ray of sunshine streaming in from our insta scrolls and we’re just over the moon to be sharing her with all of you today! Love some honest vulnerability? Love some activism for women’s empowerment? You’re going to love Mia. Having departed from the world of financial accounting, Mia has set her sights on becoming an empowerment and life coach. While honestly sharing her own highs and lows, Mia uses her platform to also amplify the voices of activists, advocates and experts on gender equality, human rights and social justice as a blogger. Before we go full fangirl here’s our latest OSKE Asks…  

 

NAME: Mia du Toit
DAY JOB: CA(SA) and founder of Mind Full by Mia
SOCIALS: @miadutoit , @mindfull.bymia

 

WHAT’S THE CLOSEST THING TO REAL MAGIC?

The journey to self-acceptance, flaws and all and learning to trust in your abilities.

Being wholeheartedly, unapologetically yourself is both freeing and empowering and whilst not an easy journey, realizing your worth is quite literally, magical. The journey isn’t linear either, but the moments of magic along the way make it worthwhile. ♡♡♡

 

DESCRIBE YOUR GIRLBOSS MOMENT.

There are two, very defining, yet very different moments for me.

The day I became a registered CA(SA).

I’ve had my fair share of setbacks and doubts along this journey, and from finishing school, it’s been a 7+ year dream in the making. A dream that often felt far out of reach and slipping away, but somehow, I still find myself wondering how I managed to pass my board exams and qualified as a CA(SA) (Chartered Accountant). I had proper imposter syndrome throughout most of it, feeling completely out of my depth in an industry that wasn’t necessarily my area of passion. So to have persevered through that is a huge personal milestone.

The day I launched my first initiative through Mind Full by Mia. Whilst climbing the corporate ladder, I’ve always known my passion lies within the community and bringing people together.

It was a clear moment of redirection and realization that my passion lies with helping, guiding and encouraging women on their journeys & finding different ways of empowering women. That was tricky whilst balancing a full-time, demanding career, so making the choice to start prioritizing Mind Full and getting it off the ground, was a proud one for me. We’ve now had exciting brand collaborations; product launches and community meet-ups as well as a monthly book club!

 

HOW DID YOU LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A WOMAN?

Definitely still learning along the way! I was lucky enough to be raised by strong women around me. Both my mom and Ouma are remarkable, independent and strong women. From a young age, I had a seat at the table and was taught to embrace, yet speak up about things relating to womanhood.

I now choose to surround myself with strong women. My friendship circle is diverse with different backgrounds, lessons and opinions. I learn both from and with them. On my journey, I’ve learnt that being a woman embodies being kind and accepting of yourself and your body, being gentle when you need to but also to fight passionately for the things that matter to you.

We also should not underestimate the power of movement and challenge our bodies. After years of a damaging relationship with my body, rephrasing my ‘why’ when it comes to exercise taught me a lot about my body and being a woman. How to fuel my body, look after it but also to keep challenging it.

 

WHO TAUGHT YOU WHAT LOVE IS? 

My mama! She is the absolute epitome of a powerhouse. She is strong, yet kind. Direct, yet gentle. She taught me to never accept anything less than I deserve and more importantly, to always act with love towards others. Her selflessness showed me how to love unapologetically and wholeheartedly.

 

WHAT IS INTIMACY?

The ability to be vulnerable and feel totally accepted and loved by another being. A gentle, raw feeling of just being present in the moment where souls, bodies and minds meet. I think it’s very rare, yet very special when you can be comfortable around another being, without any judgement.

 

 

WHAT DID YOUR MOTHER TEACH YOU?

Everything! She has always played a huge role in my independence & the strong feminist values I hold today. One of the best things she taught me during rough times “this too shall pass” and today, still, this is scribbled in all my journals & I regularly whisper it to myself when feeling overwhelmed.

 

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR BODY THAT YOU WISH YOU’D ALWAYS KNOWN?

I wish I’d been more appreciative of my body growing up. I held myself against such unrealistic beauty standards and societal pressures, that I overlooked the incredible strength and ability that my body has. I fear that most teenage girls do this because of all that we are exposed to at such a young age.

I also wish that more people would listen to and be in tune with their bodies. Aches, pains and discomforts are often your body signalling for help, so listen to it and then simultaneously learn to trust your body.

 

ULTIMATE MAKE-OUT PLAYLIST

Title: Morning Make-Outs ♡

 

WHO SHOULD EVERYONE BE FOLLOWING RIGHT NOW?  

@wetheurban – I often don’t have the correct words to voice my feelings, and this page delivers these feelings both educationally and poetically	@_stillwerise – a perfect combination of highlighting important news around the world, and lighthearted and progressive humour
@michelleobama – (girl crush, always) I love seeing people, women specifically, who have a platform to educate and empower others	@stephclairesmith – she has always been an inspiration to me, and the @keepitcleaner community she has built up is something I aspire to, with Mind Full by Mia

 

Thank you, Mia, for sharing your thoughts and feelings with the OSKE community. If you'd like to learn more about Mia and Mind Full initiatives, follow her on @miadutoit & @mindfull.bymia

Subscribe below and be sure not to miss the next #OSKEasks.