Adel du Plessis, a proud CA(SA) of 22 years, gave birth to her daughter Grace at the age of 39 − one of the highlights of her life! Nine years later, she says Grace is keeping her super young and fit with her energetic personality and passion for life. In 2023 Grace started modelling and inspired her mom to join, and this year they are both proud finalists of beauty pageants.
Grace, what do you love most about your mom?
She hugs and snuggles me when I have a bad day. She always has the best smile when I come back from school. And she makes me laugh a lot, because she is the funniest person in the world!
Adel, please briefly share your current job?
I was retrenched by Advtech Limited in December 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic economic challenges, and after 20 years of on-site work, I decided to work as a remote freelancer from January 2021. For the last three years I have been doing work in L&D and Accounting services for the NSOA, PwC, Mazars, APT, SAPRO, Kantar, The Tax Shop and Oya Energy. I am also an involved member of SAICA, which includes marking APC and ITC and writing articles for Accountancy SA.
I am passionate about education and have volunteered in various education projects over the last 22 years. I have also completed my master’s degree in Higher Education (cum laude) and on my bucket list is to complete my PhD before I turn 70.
How do you juggle being a mom and your career?
Over the last nine years I have made conscious career choices to work close to Grace’s school and our home. These trade-offs have enabled me to manage my career and be involved in Grace’s life.
I am blessed with a husband who is a wonderful father to Grace. Hermann has his own business which requires much travelling in and out of the country, but he will always make sure that he is at home evenings and weekends when I need to finish work for clients with deadlines.
My dear mother stays with us, and she has been an invaluable support to me as she is a very involved grandmother to Grace, which is a blessing to any grandchild. I pray that I will be such a support to Grace when she pursues her career and has her own family.
You have both entered beauty pageants this year. Please share more?
Grace asked us if she could start modelling in October 2023. She wanted to pursue it out of her own and we supported it – this is an industry where parents need to be involved to ensure their child’s safety and that they stay true to their faith and values. Ace Models West Rand in Johannesburg offers a holistic approach to modelling and their curriculum includes interview and public speaking skills, personal development, social media management, and character building.
Grace’s commitment inspired me, and she asked if I could join her with modelling. Her coach said I had potential and I thought, why not! Thus I am now the eldest student at their school (48) and it is much fun to do this with my daughter. We have many laughs!
Thanks to the skilled coaching of directors Shevon Perreira van der Walt and Sasha-lee Taylor, both Grace and I are now finalists in competitions in South Africa. Grace is a finalist (in her age category) of International Miss South Africa (IMSA), a pageant with an international footprint in the USA. (Mother and daughter team Zinhle and Uyanda Thupana are the directors of IMSA.) I am a finalist in the Opulent Models South Africa (the exclusive South African partner of Top Model Worldwide in London) competition in the Mrs Category which focuses on runways. It is owned by Johan Ungerer and is held every year in the SunBet Arena in Pretoria.
What are your favourite activities to do together?
Modelling, singing, dancing, spa days, sleeping and laughing.
What are the most valuable attributes you want to teach Grace?
First, to have strong faith and a relationship with God. This we do by being actively involved in church activities for her age group.
Second, to practise the attitude of gratitude. This we do by physically going to and contributing to the Jakaranda Children’s Home in Pretoria and the South African Guide Dog Association in Johannesburg.
Third, to develop perseverance and a high work ethic. This we do by having a calendar with written weekly activities and events and by staying committed to these activities even when we feel like not going or doing it.
What advice do you wish to give other moms?
Firstly, God created each of us uniquely and each of us is on a different journey, therefore there is no need for comparison. Each of us has a different driving force – career, family, wellness, wealth − the list goes on. Through self-awareness of our values, our career goals, our wheel of life, we need to decide what is important to us, what resources we have available, and how we are going to manage it.
Secondly, we do not need to be a biological mother to be called a mom. God created each woman to have a mother role: godmothers, animal mothers, ‘mothers’ to younger team members at work, ‘mothers’ to abandoned children, ‘mothers’ to abused children.
Would you encourage Grace to pursue a career as a CA(SA)? Why?
Definitely, as this career path opens up so many opportunities. It also teaches one endurance and a great work ethic. However, I need to be respectful of Grace’s talents and strengths and what she is good at.
What we will guide her in is finding a career that draws on her passions and provides her with a liveable income.
Grace, what have you planned to do with your mom for Mother’s Day?
First, going to Sunday school as mommy is a teacher and we are doing something special for the moms.
Second, going to the spa and having massages.
Lastly, me and Mommy are going to a divine dinner wearing the same dresses. Daddy is not invited.
