Bubbly Sodela, who will be returning for season two of the Showmax reality series, This Body Works For Me, has come forward to dispute that she was ever on drugs. The former stripper says this is far from the truth. In the first season of the show, she was accused by other participants of being on drugs.

IMAGE IS EVERYTHING

Bubbly tells ZiMoja, "I’m too old to be experimenting with drugs. There’s a lot at stake. I am a businesswoman and drugs don’t fit where I see myself," she says. In the sex industry, she was exposed to drug use, but she wasn’t daring enough to go there, she confesses. "I could have but I always envisioned more for myself. I never did. I didn’t want to lose my reputation. I invested a lot in how I want to look when I am 50. "I loved my alcohol, and I drank a lot but even with booze, I’ve learned to cut down as it is not good for my mental health,"

]ANXIETY

Bubbly is currently taking medication for depression and anxiety. She recently moved back to Gqeberha, after the shooting, for her mental wellness. "I just moved to PE, I got a new home and a business place. I decided that I want to go back home because Joburg was too much for me," she says. "I need tranquility. I have anxiety and I’m on medication. I am always careful not to get triggered. I always need to make sure that I am in a good place in my life." Bubbly also has a spiritual calling. "I am not a sangoma but have more of a prophetic calling. So, I am at a place where I need peace and less drama. I manifest and speak life into myself. I manifested my dream home and how I want my business to operate," she says.

LETTING HER BODY WORK FOR HER

This season. Bubbly joins the likes of newcomers Diamond, Dione Xanthe, and Lebo, who will join returning cast members, Gina, Primadonna and Wandi. Bubbly says she plans to be more open about her life while also standing up for herself more this season. "I am still the same bubbly person, but I am learning to put my foot down more so that people do not take advantage of my kindness," she says. "I am coming back more confident. In the first season ndiqhelekile (I was disrespected) by all the girls. They didn’t take me seriously, they would laugh at everything I say, but that changed, she concludes

FALLING VICTIM TO A SCAM

Earlier this year, Bubbly fell victim to a scam and worst it was orchestrated by someone she considered a friend. "I met this lady through a mutual friend. I was still a dancer at the time. I was looking for a mentor to give me drive and motivate me. She promised to help me with funding and sponsor my business, then we lost contact," she says. After a few years, they reunited. "I introduced her to a lot of people. I took her to the school where I was studying beauty and aesthetics stuff. She scammed the school and about 20 students of about R60 000. She also scammed me for R15 000," she says. "What hurts me the most is not the money, but the trust she broke between me and the people I introduced her to. She ruined many of my relationships. She asked people to invest money," Bubbly says. Bubbly says she did not open a case but saw the lady on social media being arrested. "I saw a video of her on social media trending after she allegedly scammed someone else. I knew karma would finally get the better of her." She is now focusing on running her aesthetics business and working on her mental wellness.