She has completely transformed her life from the frail Sophie Ndaba back to her normal, voluptuous and glowing "Queen" as some of her fans and followers call her. Sophie is also back in business as an events organiser at Sophla Events and doing her public speaking and motivational talks, something dear to her heart.

THE REBIRTH

Sophie recently gave a speech about her life's journey at the 20th birthday celebration of a security company in Potchefstroom, North West. She shared how during the time that diabetes had her almost bedridden, she heard all sorts of gossip being spread around. "People called me names; they said I was dying from AIDS, all sorts of things. I said, 'Darling, I need you to go test first before you call me names. You don't know what I'm going through. All my losses were lessons," she said.

OVERCOMING IT ALL

During one of her lowest times, she said she did not give up. "I call myself a mega powerhouse because nothing touches me. I have been through it all, seen it all but nothing can touch me. I level up every time," she said. A few months ago, Sophie missed a step and broke her leg. She had been using a wheelchair, then crutches, but now she is back on her feet. "I am slowly getting there. It has been six months but I am walking and recovering well. She had also downgraded her lifestyle her life was taking a turn and moved into a smaller home. But she has returned to her mansion in the west of Johannesburg, which she had been renting out, to start her new life on a clean slate.

LOOKING BACK

She reflected on how she learnt to overcome challenges when she was a teenager. "I started my business at 17 years old as a pregnant teenager. I came home with a baby at 17 years old and I felt I had disappointed my parents," she added. "But I wanted them to trust me with their R155 pension that I would multiply it ten times," she said. "I did not have the option of going to university; I wanted to be a doctor, but I couldn't go because I was pregnant. I decided to do with what I had and started my business. Since then I have not looked back; I have overcome every obstacle and continue to do so," she said, adding that she is back in business.