MODEL and author Lindsay Nyabereka said inspiration derived from great writers with the ability to create a new world of hope and escapism through storytelling stirred her to start writing books.
The author’s inspiration was propped up by a high schoolteacher at a time when people lauded her for soothing them.
They said she had a way of expressing things in a way they were not able to.
With such sentiments, the then 18-year-old Nyabereka decided to pay serious attention to writing after Advanced Level and she self-published her first book, an anthology.
“My love for books and storytelling began at a tender age. Not many people took me seriously when I started. Some felt threatened by the potential of new blood, it was not an easy journey,” she told NewsDay Life & Style.
Over the years, the 23-year-old Nyabereka said she had evolved from a young woman and disappointments and life experiences pushed her to make an impact on other women through writing.
She revealed that the idea to write her new book titled Whelmed came after enduring unpleasant experiences in her modelling career, adding that the book was for young women navigating a high demanding career, industry or life in general.
“Like the creative industry, modelling is similar, especially as a newbie or young woman many people may take advantage of you or make you feel small to push you to quit. My resilience and creativity has only grown stronger and now I often hear of how much it has inspired others,” she said.
- Model, author on a journey to impact women
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As a person who prefers peace to confrontation, Nyabereka who is also the founder of Healing With Words Publishing said writing was one of the most appropriate ways of speaking up for herself and it was also beneficial to others.
“The book is based on the definition of “whelmed” from the Urban Dictionary which is a state of balance when one is neither overstimulated nor undernourished. I wrote Whelmed for young women who may find themselves in the circumstance that I encountered and I like to stand up for such people.
“I am disappointed to realise that so many people who have faced unforgiving experiences kept quiet when they could have helped young women,” she said.
Nyabereka described her book as a guide that revolves around embracing the soft girl type, instead of the “strong black woman” that has been imposed and is expected of many women.
She pointed out that just because she advocates for women it does not mean she hates men, but her main message is context and balance, adding that it was not intended to cause divisions.
Away from the books, Nyabereka began her modelling journey when she auditioned for Miss Environment Zimbabwe in August 2022 and made it to the semi-finals.
After a year, she won in her second pageant Miss Planet Zimbabwe 2023 where she had the opportunity to represent the country at Miss Planet International in Cambodia last November.
As an environmental advocate she said people tended to abuse and misuse the resources of the planet without bounds, respect or concern about the damage done.
