She is no stranger to confronting pressing issues head-on. She has been the voice of women’s issues such as Gender-Based Violence, body shaming, and abuse. This time, radio and TV personality Penny Lebyane has come forward to address concerns over her belly and people assuming she is pregnant. Last week she received congratulatory messages after people spotted what they assumed was a baby bump. That did not sit well with her and she set the record straight.

ADDRESSING THE BUMP

Taking to her social media in a video broadcast, Penny says being called pregnant when she is not, is insensitive. "As women, we deal with a lot of hormonal changes in our bodies, literally every day. So as much as l don’t entertain anybody shaming me because l have always loved and enjoyed my body, in whatever state," she says. "As a mother to a daughter, l love to speak truthfully always and give context hence the post. I am not pregnant!" she corrects those unaware.

BODY SHAMING

Penny says she might look pregnant in the video shared on Sunday 4th June with over 25k views but she is not. Penny adds that many women deal with health issues that change their bodies. "Women deal with fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, all sorts of things including trauma, which sits there and can make their belly’s look like their pregnant when they’re not. l have friends and first-hand experience from my own mother who dealt with that when l was a teenager hence, I’ve advocated for women’s health, especially reproductive health because there’s so much going on with us," she says.

UMBILICAL HERNIA

Penny spoke openly about her umbilical hernia (protruding belly button) a while ago and how she needed an operation to fix it. " l was told by a general surgeon it didn’t matter how much l trained, actually the more l train the worse it will get unless l get the procedure done. The situation got worsened by pressure from my previous pregnancies with my children who are now 18 years and 14 years. l only learned about my condition two years ago." Penny says she tries to wear waist trainers. "And honestly, l can’t wear a waist trainer always, it’s uncomfortable as well. l just wanna be free sometimes. So that video is a reminder of my reality. Pregnancy is a beautiful journey and l enjoyed my experiences tremendously. But l am not pregnant! I have an umbilical hernia and will fix it one day when l can afford it.."