My story

I struggled academically at school and was labelled stupid. I was larger than most of the girls and labelled fat.
In my teen years, I did not fit into the
typical female stereotypes. I was a misfit who belonged nowhere. The effects of years of bullying and hurtful labels, “fat, stupid and a loser,” made it difficult for me to believe in myself.
In addition to the years of bullying in school, at fifteen, I was sexually assaulted by a man who I believed had HIV.
Growing up in South Africa during the height of the AIDS epidemic was scary, especially for a young girl who knew little about the disease that was claiming so many in my homeland.At that time in South Africa, there were so many dying of AIDS. I did not know of any medication for AIDS in South Africa to help at that time, and out of deep shame, I did not reach out for help. The pain and embarrassment finally broke me.I gave up and let go of my dreams of giving back to the world; as a result, I lost my authentic self. Around the age of sixteen, I was desperate to find love and acceptance, and I started dieting. I lost a few pounds of weight, and a few people complimented me on my weight loss. I felt I was beginning to fit in so I decided to eat much less and exercise harder. But as my weight began to rapidly plummet, so did the compliments. People started to say I looked sick and ugly and some people would stare at me with disgust when I went out in public.
I began to isolate myself and stopped going out at all. Within a few months, I hardly had the strength to walk, and my organs were showing signs that they would shut down. Every day, I was coming closer to facing my death, but when I looked in the mirror, the reflection I saw staring back at me was of someone who was very overweight. I didn’t realize it then, but I was anorexic.My dad heard of a church that was showing a movie about eating disorders. In desperation, he carried me into the church and placed me on a chair facing the movie, so I had no option but to watch it. The next morning, a miracle happened. When I looked in the mirror, I saw my true reflection looking back at me. My eyes were sunken in, and I looked like a walking skeleton with skin on it. I realized that if I did not start to eat I was going to die. This miracle saved my life. I began to eat just enough to survive and to convince my parents I was doing better. But now that I was eating a new enemy arrived, just as dangerous as the first, her
name was bulimia. I began to eat and throw up my food afterwards.When I started my career as a freelance makeup artist it allowed me to discover that most of the photos of models were altered and airbrushed to make them look taller and thinner, and with larger breasts. unrealistic ideas of beauty and now I understood the truth about this level of “perfection”. It was all a lie; I
started to realize no one was perfect, but many were dying
trying to be. I wanted to find recovery from the cycle of bulimia, compulsive overeating, highly restrictive diets,
and over-exercising to stay thin. I felt hopeless and it was the darkest time of my life. I was stuck behind a door of shame and I didn’t have the key. I tried every therapy I could think of and read every self-help book I could put my hands on, but nothing seemed to work.At the age of twenty-one, I experienced two additional acts of sexual assault.
One year later I went to a clinic and got tested for HIV. As I sat in a small, crowded room waiting for my results, I began to reflect on my life up until then. I realized I had lost my authentic self and had allowed my dreams to die. I had allowed myself to become molded to what the world wanted me to be, into what others saw as successful. I wore the perfect makeup and had the designer shoes and handbags, but nothing could fill the vast empty void inside
me; I was fake and not truly living. Deep in my heart, I wanted to live; I wanted a second chance to live my life as my true self. I mumbled a small prayer to God to give me a second chance to live the life He wanted me to live, and I made a promise that if He did, I would live my life for Him and do whatever He wanted me to. The test came back negative, and I had my second chance!
I kept my promise to God and went to church. That evening I gave my life to Jesus Christ. It felt like a river of love and happiness began to flow through me; the empty void in me was finally gone!
I wanted to learn more about God and started to read God’s Word. I began to understand the truth that He is love and has a good plan for my life—for
all our lives. That was the beginning of a long journey to find healing and recovery through God’s love and truth.
I feel I have finally found the keys to unlock the doors to freedom and find my authentic self. My life now is totally transformed. I have purpose, peace, and recovery from eating disorders. It is now my mission to pass these keys on and reach out to help other teen girls and women who are struggling with similar issues find the hope and freedom that they deserve.

12-step program
Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous

EATING DISORDERS ( GLOBAL )

• Anorexics and Bulimics Anoymous

• overeaters Anonymous

EATING DISORDERS ( Canada )

• eMental Health.ca

• Nedic. ca

Bullying ( Canada )

• Prevnet.ca

• Canadian Safe School Network

Assault or Abuse ( Canada )

• Domestic abuse services.ca

• EVA CAN

Assault or Abuse ( Global )

• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NATIONAL

Bullying ( Global )

• Shout

Speaking & Book signing

Melinda loves connecting with women and teen girls when sharing her testimony.
Melinda draws from her life journey. Her story is a beacon of hope, showing that one can overcome any life challenge with God's love, healing, and power.Her print edition of her Workbook, "Living True, Fearless and Free: A Woman's Journey to Overcoming," is only available through her speaking events and is printed in limited small batches in Ontario, Canada.
Melinda is currently taking bookings in the Halton Region Area in Ontario.
If you'd like to learn more, please fill out the contact form below, connect with Melinda, and start planning your women's or teen girls' event, podcast interview, or any other media opportunity.