Sthandiwe Kgoroge: Our parents thought if they told us we were beautiful we would get big headed

Former Generations and The Road star Sthandiwe Kgoroge has reflected on the damage some parents unknowingly do when they refuse to tell their children that they are beautiful or smart in order to keep them humble.

Sthandiwe has long been preaching about self-worth and took to Instagram this week to share how she had pledged to encourage her daughter and make her feel worthwhile.

She claimed that parents often didn't compliment their children to keep them humble. She recounted a story of a friend who was never told she was beautiful and the impact it had on her. 

"One of my best friends is drop-dead gorgeous and she says she doesn't remember her mom telling her that she's beautiful. When people mentioned it, she would hear her mom say 'don't ruin my child'. Our parents thought if they told us that we're beautiful or that we're smart, it would make us big headed."

She said that she understood that parents meant well but called for an end to the practice.

"They were doing what they knew and what they thought is love and keeping us grounded and humble. That's why these uncomfortable chains need to be broken with our own parents through intergenerational conversations and new traditions of affirmation started with our children."

This is not the first time that Sthandiwe has taken to social media to tackle issues about self-esteem.

Last year she spoke about skin colour and how light skin was often seen as more beautiful, and how, as a dark-skinned woman, that affected her growing up.

"Everything negative was attached to my dark skin, everything unattractive. Until the day I looked around and realised that my dark complexion is pulchritude personified and that I love my dark complexion!"