Nicole Maistry, age 32, is not only a mum, wife and businesswoman – but so much more! She’s also a motivational speaker, public figure, community builder and model – who was crowned Mrs India South Africa 2017!
She is a brand ambassador for Mrs Uniworld and is currently the reigning Mrs Inter-Nations – she was crowned in Singapore in October 2018 where she represented South Africa. Nicole is also a media personality and an advocate for living with lupus.
“I hail from the small town of Tongaat, the daughter of ex-teachers. My two elder brothers and I were raised by a single mum as my dad passed when I was nine years old. Being the youngest and the only girl, I grew up protected and a little spoiled on occasion,” says Nicole.
“At the age of 19 I was diagnosed with lupus. Back then it was almost unheard of and very few people were affected by it. This autoimmune disease did affect me adversely but I had an incredibly strong support system. It began my need to empower myself with as much knowledge surrounding this disease as possible. After undergoing vigorous treatment, I relocated to Johannesburg. Having a great team of physicians and rheumatologists and other people to assist in my management of this disease, I grew stronger and more adjusted. I have undergone many surgeries and still do have setbacks from time to time.”
Life with lupus
A flare-up can occur at any time, brought on by the slightest infection, stress, allergies, too much exposure to sunlight, an injury, pregnancy, and some medication. A flare-up cannot be avoided completely, but if not managed and dealt with immediately it can result in hospitalisation and the administration of steroids and aggressive medication to stabilise the symptoms.
“I have used my titles and the limelight as a platform to create awareness for lupus – the number of people affected by it is constantly increasing. This disease mimics a lot of other illnesses and is highly misunderstood, hence my quest for reaching as many individuals as I can,” explains Nicole.
“My aim is to empower other ‘lupies’, inspire and encourage them and to ensure they do not feel alone and belittled. There is a lot of work to do regarding lupus awareness – many people to encompass and many issues to address. But engaging a wider platform allows me to have my voice heard by more and more people – a voice of awareness and embracing each other.”
Nicole’s other community initiatives include mentorship for young girls in high school – working with self-esteem and building confidence. She also focuses on giving back to the community, especially the elderly.
“My motto and affirmation in life is this; we are placed on earth to help others, and if we cannot help, at least don’t hurt them,” concludes Nicole.
Understanding Lupus
Facts about lupus:
It is a chronic illness. Symptoms may come and go, but the disease must be managed long-term. There is currently no known cure for lupus.
It’s an autoimmune disease. ‘Auto’ means ‘self’ in lupus – the immune system gets overactive and works incorrectly leading to your body attacking itself.
It’s not a one-size-fits-all disease. Lupus can look like many other diseases and have similar symptoms, yet the symptoms vary for different people, which make it difficult to diagnose.
Factors that may play a role in lupus
Gender and sex hormones: Women get lupus much more often than men, as oestrogen levels may influence both the development and activity of lupus.
Genetics: Lupus has a tendency to appear in some families more than others.
Environment: UV rays from the sun or fluorescent light bulbs, medications that make you sensitive to the sun, infections, colds and viral infections can all play a part.
Physical & emotional stress: Exhaustion and stress to the body such as surgery, physical injury, pregnancy or giving birth.
The Lupus Foundation of South Africa is the only national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, one of the world’s cruellest, most unpredictable and devastating diseases, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. They envision a life free of lupus.
Their mission is to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus through programmes of research, education, support and advocacy. We will greatly step up our fundraising efforts to ensure we reach their disease-specific goals:
• Build a solid database for Africa
• Provide education and advocacy.
• Connect professionals & patients.
Contact the Lupus Foundation SA for more information.