This Women’s Month, we’re celebrating the women who live brightly, lead boldly and leave an unforgettable mark on the people around them. They are the women who turn hardship into hope, lift others as they rise and remind us that true strength is found in community.
In collaboration with ClemenGold®, we’re shining a light on women whose courage, generosity and zest for life inspire brighter futures. Much like the fruit nurtured by ClemenGold’s dedicated growers, their influence begins with strong roots and grows through care, patience and purpose.
For more than 20 years, ClemenGold® has made everyday life simpler, tastier and brighter. More than a delicious, virtually seedless mandarin, it is a wholesome gesture that says, “I thought of you.” Each ClemenGold® is sun-ripened, handpicked and carefully packed, reflecting the passion and dedication that have made it a trusted favourite.
That same spirit of care lies at the heart of Joslyn Lategan’s work. Through her fitness brand Stronger with Joss, the biokineticist, movement coach and community builder has created an uplifting space in which women can move confidently, connect meaningfully and recognise their own strength.
From inclusive fitness events to breast cancer awareness initiatives and programmes empowering young girls, Joslyn is helping women build stronger bodies, deeper relationships and brighter futures. We chat with the brand founder and do-gooder about all things wellness, health and finding happiness on your own terms. Join the conversation.
Tell us about the path that brought you here.
I have always loved being around people and being inspired by others in the community. That’s what created the space for me to meet new people and bring women together.
During COVID, I felt disconnected while teaching online workout classes. When the restrictions were lifted, we started outdoor rooftop workouts to bring women together through movement and exercise.
I also lost my dad to cancer, and I saw how hard it was on families. I wanted to become a biokineticist and movement coach to help people become strong, healthy and confident in their movement, so that they could carry this into their everyday activities.
What inspired Stronger with Joss?
Wanting to create a platform where women could feel seen, loved and strong in their own bodies.
I wanted to create a space where women felt confident being around other women, where they could be inspired and motivated by other women, as well as by themselves. I wanted exercise and movement to be something to be proud of – not something that makes women feel smaller, but something that encourages women to take up space and recognise how powerful community can be when women come together.
What first sparked your love for movement?
I always wanted to do something with movement and exercise. I played many sports growing up, and I found such beauty in the teamwork, leadership, discipline, patience and resilience that one learns through doing sport and exercise.
I wanted to encourage more women and young women to move their bodies in a space where they feel comfortable, where they feel like they can grow and where they really enjoy exercise. I feel like that’s super important.
What really pushed me in that direction was going through a period that was very difficult for my mental health. Exercise, community and going to fitness classes really lifted my mood. I met such incredible, inspiring and motivating people, which allowed me to find my purpose in exercise and the fitness space. Working in exercise and movement is my way of giving back and showing gratitude for what it did to help me get through such a hard time.
Fill your cup so that you can give to others and yourself.
Many women walk into gyms feeling intimidated. What does body inclusivity mean to you?
True body inclusivity is when women arrive and feel as though they can be themselves. I always tell women at the beginning of a class not to compare themselves with other women, but to use one another to feel empowered and to push and motivate each other through the class.
We’re all at different fitness levels, and we’re all at different stages and seasons in life. The space should feel inclusive and powerful and offer opportunities for networking and community. It should be about women coming together and finding a space where they feel seen and loved.
I always want to create a space where women feel included in every single session.
As a biokineticist, you’ve helped many. What has this profession taught you about resilience?
Exercise and movement have taught me a lot about women’s strength. As a biokineticist, I’ve seen that rehabilitation is not linear and that there are so many ups and downs. At the end, you look back, and you’re like, “I’ve done that. I did that. I’m stronger on the other side.”
I feel like that perspective can translate into our lives. We can look at life and say that it is a roller coaster, with ups and downs, but you should always be proud knowing that you’ve made another day.
‘Resilient’ is a word I would use to describe women in this day and age because they are so resilient, capable and strong. It’s about finding a community and people to help you along the way and through that roller coaster.
You are always on the go. When you’re not busy working, how do you recharge?
In my downtime, I love going for walks and listening to music. I love music! I’m a dance and workout instructor, so music is so beautiful to me. I also love simply relaxing in the sun. That’s how I recharge.
Life can get busy, and it’s so important to fill your cup so that you can give to others and yourself.
Who are some of the women who inspire you?
My mom helps keep me going. She always encourages me to do my best, love others and be kind to others. Watching how she has raised two girls on her own for the past eight years is very inspiring. I have so much admiration for her. She inspires me to keep going each and every day, even though it has been a difficult couple of years since losing our dad.
My sister would be the second woman. She is such a pure, kind and strong soul whom I look up to. Even though she’s younger than me, she’s taller than me, so I genuinely look up to her! She has the purest heart. We have gone through life together, and every step of the way, we’ve had each other by our sides. She keeps me pushing forward.
And of course, my group of girlfriends. They have supported me with my event hosting from the very beginning and have been by my side through every heartache and every opportunity I did or didn’t get.
They are there cheering me on through my wins, and they are there to offer a shoulder to cry on. They are the ones who keep me going each and every day.
ILoveBoobies is an organisation dedicated to improving access to breast cancer screening. What motivated you to get involved?
What motivated me to become part of the ILoveBoobies organisation was seeing how much cancer affects women and the people around them. I really wanted to help the community by raising funds through movement.
ILoveBoobies encourages exercise, wellness and healthy living, so that we can live our lives for ourselves and our families. I think the two intertwine so naturally.
It’s all about early detection: encouraging women to perform self-examinations and educating them about early detection to decrease the risk of cancer spreading. It is about keeping our grandmothers, mothers, sisters and families around so that we can enjoy the lives we get to live with them.
You were also involved with ActivateHer, supporting young girls through the power of play. Why are these initiatives so important?
It’s so important to invest in young women because they are our future leaders and changemakers. We need to teach them the importance of health and living a healthy lifestyle, so that they can also promote that to younger women and their peers.
I think it’s very important to teach young women early on about leading healthy lives through movement and exercise, and why it’s essential. They should understand the benefits, both mentally and physically. It’s also about knowing how loved and cared for you are by the women in your life. If there is one kind of medicine that is going to help keep them there to live each and every day, it is exercise, movement and social connection.
Making connections with other people through movement and exercise is such a great way to collaborate within communities.
It’s all about putting health first.
Is there a client story that has stayed with you?
One close friend whose story has stayed with me is someone I recently went on a sunset walk with. Her name is Lauren, and she is a breast cancer survivor and a young mother.
The light, love and kindness she brings to the world around her make her such an inspiration to her daughter and to other women. She reaches out to encourage other women to prioritise early detection.
She felt a lump in her breast and went to have it checked that same day. She told me that if she had been working that day, she might have left it. Luckily, she was off. Her story is about not delaying things. There are resources that can help women.
Early detection saves lives. Encourage other women to go for their annual check-ups, perform monthly self-examinations and educate themselves about breast cancer and how it affects so many women in our nation, South Africa. It can also affect men. It’s all about putting health first. Go and get checked.
What legacy do you hope to leave one day?
The legacy I’d like to leave behind is a world that is just a little bit kinder. Kindness goes a long way, and if you can be anything, be kind – to people, to yourself, to nature and the world around you.
If I could help change even one person’s perspective, it would be to remind them to be kind to themselves, to know that hard days will end and good days will come, and to keep going.
Be kind in how you speak to yourself. Remind yourself that you’re enough, that you’re capable and that you’re strong. You deserve to live a life that you love.
Feeling inspired? Follow Stronger with Joss for more about upcoming events.
Learn more about the ClemenGold® golden values and make every moment better this Women’s Month. These virtually seedless mandarins are now available at Woolworths stores nationwide until October. Also, don’t miss the freshly squeezed ClemenGold® mandarin juice!
Visit the links below for delicious recipes and zesty goodness.
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