A friend I did my masters with recently took the bold step to open up her own studio 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿. The woman is a highly talented African queen who hails from Kenya and calls SA home. She sees the world through such a beautiful, unique and freaking lens. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_9ukbwjvGuD5hp6WPU1apnG_0Zrr7ITgNVO_s0/?igshid=6eszozkj1gcl

Not necessarily a New Year’s resolution but decided to challenge myself again and start reading all these books I keep buying. The challenges as to finish this before the clock strikes 12 on the 31st Dec but that didn’t quite happen. So we end our first week by finishing off an old book and looking to finish off another book we hadn’t yet finished last year 🙈 (Welcome to Lagos by Chibundu Onuzo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsNO8qahX76hvOj9N4FcBqmGZNdAMyQl9-i0zQ0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1mzf440t49dm5

Hello 2019 👋🏿. I’m Gladys and I’m ready to learn, grow, cry, break down, laugh, sleep, fail, succeed and whatever else you’ve got in store for me. Going back to a familiar place knowing I’m neither the person I was during my undergrad and honours nor am I the person I will be post this masters. Thank you universe for the fear and excitement I feel; thank you family, friends and colleagues (and clients and suppliers as well) for the strength and confidence in my knowledge that I shall find my feet, voice, vision and passion and successfully navigate through my faults, will power, procrastination and other pit falls in this long year journey in writing my dissertation. I am no academic but I look forward to writing something that will be able to be of worth to not only my discipline but my brothers and sisters of humanity as well. https://www.instagram.com/p/BsNN9OHhVC-faFj-3pOBfQTueHu58TUKVgwsQ00/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5tb2f0g9foeq

Reflections of Self Self-love progress revealed 👑 All props to my photographers and hypemen @la_belle_cindy and @bebita.bk 📸: @la_belle_cindy #goldenconfidence #plussize #plus #melaninqueen #melaningoddess #melaninonfleek #melanin #melaninpoppin #forever21 #mrpricefashion #mrprice (at The Maboneng Precinct) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoE4KbPl0xku9RVdp8vL7ThJ5EdBBNVudm5gvw0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1v4w8nv40da7x

Tones, Tints, Shades and Shadows Self-love progress revealed 👑 All props to my photographers and hypemen @la_belle_cindy and @bebita.bk 📸: @la_belle_cindy #goldenconfidence #plussize #plus #melaninqueen #melaningoddess #melaninonfleek #melanin #melaninpoppin #forever21 #mrpricefashion #mrprice (at The Maboneng Precinct) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoE4DjFF1EBMYr3WTEdQ__JUBF8GjAR1SwTBIw0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=h75fkgb7htn7

Yellow Radiance Self-love progress revealed 👑 All props to my photographers and hypemen @la_belle_cindy and @bebita.bk 📸: @la_belle_cindy #goldenconfidence #plussize #plus #melaninqueen #melaningoddess #melaninonfleek #melanin #melaninpoppin #forever21 #mrpricefashion #mrprice (at The Maboneng Precinct) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoE341JlBGBPLSxdyp4sWhC9GXkQKMt0pvmOBE0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=40w5xizr9nmz

Definitely need to learn more about lighting. Really like this hotel, still feel the same way I did almost a year ago when I first came here (at Century City Hotel)

Working on this self love thing is hard work hey. So thankful I’ve had the best friends and family around to always keep reminding me just how the love I give out comes back tenfolds (at Silver Lakes Golf Estate)

Finally trying out my Black Friday purchase, these green heel beauties 😬. Been going through a green phase 🙈 (at Kream Restaurant, Mall of Africa)

Soaked in one of my favourite winter colours. 🌿🌿🌿

And then Liliane did the things to make the pots appear!!! 🔥🔥🔥 thé post-new hairdo feeling myself video. Loving my new protective hairstyle 😍 (at Meyerspark, Gauteng, South Africa)

Yesterday’s salon day selfie pre-new hairdo ☺️ (at Meyerspark, Gauteng, South Africa)

Slow start to the morning but hey let’s be happy to have made it to today. I had a moment of reflection yesterday based on something I learnt and I must say I have been blessed by all that my folks have done for me (the good and bad too, cause that’s how I got to be the Gladys of today). Thanks universe for letting me live this journey out; help me find my purpose and repay you back for this honour.

And so the birthday celebrations began last night... 🍷, 🍗 , potato bake, 🥩, 🎶 , laughs and good conversation with some wonderful friends 🙂

Silhouettes and reflections...

Space / Loneliness / Exposed

And now it's Mac Miller's turn to wow us and blow us with his bars #superbalistinthecity #macmiller #livejams #livemusic #sundayafternoonvibes (at Emmarentia Dam)