'I had many moments of loneliness' — Linda Majola on growing up as a queer child

Actor Linda Majola said all they wanted to do as a child was sing, dance and model, among other things.

Looking back to their happier self, they shared a video on Instagram dancing to Missy Elliot's Work It. 

“Growing up as a queer child I had many moments of loneliness. I felt like the ugly duckling or the odd one out. Boys didn’t understand me, girls understood me but still never welcomed me in fully. My sister @soph_abulous really helped me blossom into the flower I am today,” they wrote.

While Linda looked back to when they were younger and joyful in commemoration of Pride Month, actor and radio presenter Khaya Dladla said Pride Month has always been about introspection for him.

“See how far we [have] come from the first LGBTQIA+ march in the African continent in Johannesburg on October 13 1990 fighting for gay rights, equality and [against] apartheid at the same time to today, where people like me are on radio prime-time shows five days a week and on TV six days a week on major channels and streaming platforms. Same-sex couples legally married with children (still working on that😜),” he wrote on his timeline.

“The battle is not over, but we are headed [in] the right direction.

“Thank you to everyone who supported me — but [I] also want to thank everyone who unnecessarily used derogatory words towards me, because lucky for me, you didn’t break me but gave me a better excuse to fight harder for what I believe in and most importantly my identity (which is my most priceless possession).”