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A number of women are still stuck in the past and regard time as the greatest enemy. The dreaded crows’ feet, grey hair and all muscles pulling south seem inescapable and inevitable.
Face lifts, Botox injections and endless trips to beauty parlours seem to be de rigueur for the rich and famous. The application of all sorts of weird beauty aids ranging from mud packs, ash, raw meat, egg masks to special anti-ageing creams are the choices for the millions of ordinary women.
But, Christianity as a way of staying young and healthy is certainly a different twist. Sue Peters, a Harare business woman who runs an upscale gym and several beauty salons says her relationship with God is the source of her gorgeous appearance.
The 60-year-old entrepreneur looks like she is still in her thirties. “Beauty comes from within, a woman who prays is beautiful inside and that is the glow that you see on the outside,” she tells me as I chat to her at her office at Bodyfitness Gym at the Borrowdale Racecourse.
A classic bone structure, natural beauty and effortless elegance have all helped her remain wonderfully preserved. “I exercise a lot and because of my religion, I am vegan, I always eat healthy.” Her skin looks fresh and the only sign of makeup is a subtle shade of lipstick, nothing else.
She is a mother, grandmother, successful business woman, busy preacher and an environmentalist. Yet Peters is serene, perfectly groomed and never gives the impression that she is short of time.
She starts her day around four am when she wakes up and meditates and prays for two hours. “It does not matter where I am; I always start my day the same way at the same time.” This brings inner peace thus she does not fall victim to stress, the number one killer of high flying executives.
Breakfast is a brown bread sandwich and tea or chocolate. “I never drink coffee because caffeine is bad for the skin and the body in general.” For the rest of the day she drinks a lot of pure fruit juices and water.
Getting dressed is not a hustle. Her favourite colour is turquoise and she usually wears gym clothes because that is where most of her day is spent. “I am no longer materialistic and now I just buy whatever suits me without looking at the label.” But style and class are innate and she still looks chic, expensive and perfectly groomed. She buys her clothes from Queenspark in SA.
Around eight thirty, she sets off for work. She believes in the hands-on approach when it comes to managing her business empire. “I do not even have a PA. I do the daily rounds myself. My PA is my mobile,” she laughs. Her schedule should be hectic but she somehow manages to appear unflustered and perfectly in control.
Peters started out in the accounting field. After seven years, she went into hairdressing and established the Ebony brand. “I felt the urge to use my hands. This is a talent that God gave me and it is his divine power that has made me succeed”.
She went on to produce her own hair products and start a licensed beauty college which has spread her fame in the diaspora.
“There are over 2 000 graduates of my hairdressing college and they have gone on to make their mark in SA, Botswana and even the UK.”
Lunch can be at a restaurant or like on the day I met her, a banana munched while she drives. She has no favourite food and will eat any fruit and vegetables. She does not touch alcohol.
Her formal day ends around three and she heads home before the evening rush. Once there, she relaxes, watches gospel shows on TV and writes her sermons.
“I practically live in my bedroom. I do have a study but I hardly use it. I write in the bedroom and often watch TV in there.”
I ask her for her evening beauty routine. Does she religiously cleanse tone and moisturise as every beauty columnist tells us all to? “I simply apply oil after my night shower. Any oil that is edible is good for your skin. Personally I use olive oil. I cook with it, use it in salad dressings and I use it on my skin, alone or mixed with shea butter. Cucumber oils, almond oils are also good alternatives.”
And her tip to other women? “God has given each of us a talent. Find yours and everything will fall into place. Do not leave it until too late to start eating right and exercising. It is always easier to maintain than to repair.”
By Pacific Ndoro
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