Recognition Is Not the Destination: What Being Named Among the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans Means to Me

There are moments in life when you have to pause, look back at the road you have travelled and acknowledge how far you have come. For me, being named among the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans of 2026 in the Entrepreneurship category is one of those moments.

On 6 August 2026, I joined a group of young South Africans recognised for their contributions across different sectors. It was an honour I did not take lightly. Beyond the announcement, the photographs and the conversations that followed, the recognition carried a much deeper meaning for me: it reminded me that the work we do today can become part of a story much bigger than ourselves.

For someone whose journey has included seasons of uncertainty, rejection, rebuilding and prayer, this milestone was an opportunity to reflect on the distance travelled and the responsibility that comes with being recognised.

Isabela Pereira, recognised among the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans of 2026 in the Entrepreneurship category.

The Person Behind the Recognition

My journey has not been a straight line.

I experienced the loss of my mother when I was 17, a defining moment that shaped my understanding of life, resilience and the importance of having a support system. In the years that followed, I faced personal challenges that tested my strength, including experiences of abuse, homelessness and navigating difficult circumstances without the family support I needed.

There were moments when the future felt uncertain. Yet, through those experiences, my faith in God became an anchor. I learned that rebuilding does not always happen publicly, and that some of the most important growth takes place when there is no audience to witness it.

I am still growing, learning and becoming. I do not share my story because I believe hardship automatically makes someone successful. I share it because I know what it means to keep moving when the path ahead is unclear.

My faith has taught me to trust God while continuing to do the work in front of me. I have learned to appreciate the lessons that come with waiting, the discipline required to keep showing up and the courage it takes to begin again.

For me, delay is not denial. But faith also requires action, responsibility and a willingness to prepare for the opportunities we pray for.

Building SHE FITS: A Business with a Purpose

I am the Founder and CEO of SHE FITS, a women-focused activewear and wellness venture built around movement, confidence and community.

The idea grew from my own relationship with fitness and how movement helped me heal, rebuild my confidence and develop greater discipline. What began as a personal experience inspired a bigger vision: to create a brand that encourages women to feel confident in their bodies and supported in their wellness journeys.

SHE FITS is beginning with size-inclusive activewear, with a broader ambition to develop a community where women can move, belong and become. The long-term vision extends beyond clothing into wellness experiences, women’s fitness initiatives and spaces that make movement more accessible.

I am also honest about where the business stands. Entrepreneurship is not always a story of immediate revenue, rapid growth or overnight success. There are stages of research, planning, finding the right partners, understanding the market and working towards the resources needed to execute a vision properly.

In 2026, SHE FITS was recognised among the Young African Entrepreneurs Institute’s Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Top 20 startups. Together with the Mail & Guardian recognition, this has encouraged me to continue developing the business while remaining focused on the problem it exists to solve.

Building SHE FITS is an ongoing journey of turning a personal experience into a business with a wider purpose.

Entrepreneurship Must Create More Than Personal Success

My interests extend beyond my own business. I care deeply about youth development, women’s economic empowerment and creating pathways that help people move from potential to practical opportunity.

As Co-founder and Chairperson of GADEF International South Africa , I am interested in how young people can be supported to develop their leadership abilities, identify opportunities and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Through my work with GADEF International in South Africa, I am also interested in the role of collaboration in connecting young people and organisations across borders.

My appointment to the Gauteng Arts and Culture Council for the September 2026 to March 2027 term adds another dimension to my interest in leadership, public participation and the contribution of creative and cultural sectors to society.

I have also continued to engage with business chambers, trade delegations, investment discussions and international business opportunities. These experiences have strengthened my interest in connecting African entrepreneurs with the networks, knowledge and opportunities needed to participate in wider markets.

I believe we need to think beyond inspiring young people to become entrepreneurs. We must also ask what happens after the inspiration: Do they know how to register and operate a business? Can they access markets? Do they understand funding requirements? Are they prepared to build partnerships and compete internationally?

These are questions I want my work to help address. Over time, I hope to contribute to practical entrepreneurship resources and programmes that connect business education with implementation, market access and international trade.

Minister of small business development Stella Tembisa Ndabeni with Isabela Pereira at Creatives Fund launch

What This Recognition Means to Me

Being named among the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans is meaningful but I do not see it as the destination.

Recognition can open doors, introduce you to people doing important work and give greater visibility to the ideas you are pursuing. It can also remind you that people are paying attention to what you do and the values you represent.

That comes with responsibility.

I want to use the opportunities that come with this recognition to build stronger relationships, learn from people who have gone further than I have and contribute to initiatives that create meaningful change. I want SHE FITS to grow into the business I envision and I want my work with young people, women and communities to translate into practical outcomes.

I am grateful for every person who has encouraged me, every opportunity that has helped me grow and every difficult season that has taught me something about myself. Above all, I remain grateful to God for sustaining me through chapters I once struggled to understand.

I am not sharing this milestone as someone who has figured everything out. I am sharing it as someone who is still building, still learning and still trusting God with the journey ahead.

The recognition is an honour. The work continues.

And if there is one thing I hope another young person takes from my story, it is this: you do not need to have every part of your future figured out to begin. Start with what you have, learn as you go, remain faithful to your values and keep working towards the impact you want to create.

Recognition is not the destination. It is another opportunity to serve, to build and to become more intentional about the future we want to shape.

About the author

Isabela Pereira is a South African entrepreneur, speaker and community builder. She is the Founder and CEO of SHE FITS and Co-founder and Country Director–South Africa of GADEF International. She was recognised among the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans of 2026 in the Entrepreneurship category. Her work and interests span entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, youth development, wellness and international business collaboration.