As a child, all Michelle wanted was to play sport – but being born without a left hip socket, her parents and doctors discouraged exercise. Through sheer determination, Michelle secured herself a spot on the netball team, and eventually became captain of the first team. But at nine years old, her doctor gave her a choice no kid should have to make: preserve her hip or lose her mobility as a teenager.
All About Michelle
Hospitality Manager
Most underrated superfood: Eggs
Ultimate cure for a bad day: Ocean
Go-to recovery method: Couch
Years of unsuccessful surgeries, chronic pain, and medication dependency left her overweight and self-conscious throughout high school. Everything changed when she joined the Mossel Bay Lifeguard Club. For the first time, she discovered a love for movement. She even became a model. But the pandemic paused all her pursuits.
“I wasn’t chasing fitness because I wanted to look different, I wanted to experience everything I’d missed out on.”
“When Covid brought travel to a halt, I finally faced the one thing I’d spent years avoiding: a hip replacement,” she says. “I was terrified it would fail.” It didn’t. And recovery brought an unexpected gift when her physiotherapist declared: “You’re never going to feel that again.” That moment catalysed transformation. Empowered, Michelle was able to train in ways she couldn’t before. “I finally became the person I’d always believed I could be.”
READ MORE: Time For A Training Overhaul? Here’s How To Know When To Change Your Routine
What has been the biggest challenge in your wellness journey?
For years, I viewed my body through the lens of its limitations. Even after my surgery, I found myself waiting for the pain to return. During my recovery, I realised I had the opportunity to experience all the things I’d missed out on, growing up – I just needed to do it wisely.
How has your definition of fitness and health evolved?
Living with a disability taught me that every person’s journey looks different. Comparing ourselves to others only takes away from our own progress.
This article first appeared in the Sep + Oct 2026 Issue of Women’s Health South Africa. Words by Michelle October.
