Wanda Fourie – East London’s very own Wanda Woman
The body is often likened to a machine, conditions of which vary according to how well we look after it: this makes perfect sense of course, and one look at Wanda Fourie’s physique and you can easily see that hers is a machine well-maintained, and in immaculate condition.
I was honoured to sit down with Wanda recently, to hear her story, having seen her around East London for many years but never having met her.
I discovered a side to this lady that has perhaps gone unnoticed by many. Because – and here’s the sad truth – inasmuch as we might take pride and consider ourselves non-judgmental folk, the fact remains that most of us (perhaps not consciously but nonetheless) make our minds up about a person prior to meeting them, and sometimes based on what we’ve heard. It might not be right and just but it does obviously happen.
Wanda Fourie has had her fair share of people judging her. Indeed, still has, almost on a daily basis. People are curious about her gender, her sexuality, they’ve already made their minds up about her – she must be gay, right, with muscles like those? She must be butch with an attitude to match, right? Wrong. On both counts. But Wanda is used to it. That’s not to say that she welcomes the stares and the whispers behind the hands but she is aware that it happens and rises above it.
Born in Port Elizabeth, Wanda relocated to East London in 1995. A keen sportswoman, she played a variety of different sports until a rugby injury in 2003 forced her to quit. It was at this point that she began pursuing a career in Body Building, having always loved the look of it. Within just two years, Wanda was up on stage competing in her very first competition and scooping first prize.
Numerous competitions and shows followed with Wanda learning more about the Body Building industry, with the help and guidance of Eugene van Schalkwyk along the way.
She participated in shows up until 2011 when the IFBB did away with the female Body Building division and has since continued as a personal trainer at Body Classique as well as independently. She is also now on the judging panel at shows and can be seen from time to time at various sporting events, warming up the crowd before a run, always with a smile on her face.
While her job as a personal trainer keeps her fitness levels up, the sculpting and defining of her body requires extra dedication. Wanda likens this conditioning to that of maintaining a car: you decide which parts of your vehicle that you want to change and you set about making those changes – the same principle applies to the body.
And beneath this body so perfectly honed is an incredibly warm person with a heart of gold. She will often take it upon herself to put together care packages and distribute them on the streets or in the townships, wherever there’s a need. She doesn’t do this for recognition, she does it because she is a good soul and giving is something that comes very naturally to her.
This month sees her doing a bit of fundraising for herself however, raising money to get to Spain for the World Champs in November, as her partner and fellow Body Builder Michael Adonis’s trainer. Wanda is currently selling tickets as part of the fundraising, available at R50 from Body Classique or by calling her directly. I have seen some of the seriously awesome prizes up for grabs in this raffle so it’s well worth getting a ticket or two. Not only will you stand more of a chance of winning something wonderful, you’ll be helping Wanda get one step closer to Spanish soil.
And in addition to hoping to achieve this European dream, Wanda also hopes to make a comeback next year in the female Body Building division. I have discovered just how many supporters this lady has and how many people would be delighted to see her competing again, and I really do hope this dream will be fulfilled.
Wanda Fourie is a rather admirable woman. Chasing her dreams, going after what her heart desires, achieving success, and all the while remaining humble, her feet planted firmly on the ground. She is loyal, encouraging, and really very lovely. She is, Wanda Woman 😉