Selected Work and Case Studies

Essay: “[Yellow-bone]” — Pretty Bitches: On Being Called Crazy, Angry, Bossy, Frumpy, Feisty, and All the Other Words That Are Used to Undermine Women (Seal Press, edited by Lizzie Skurnick)

About this piece:

“Yellow-bone” examines the colorism and colonial hangovers that still shape how Black beauty is seen and valued in South Africa. Through personal reflection and social observation, it unpacks how language, desirability, and internalized bias intertwine — revealing how words like yellow-bone carry both history and harm.

Published in Pretty Bitches, an American anthology edited by Lizzie Skurnick — the acclaimed author, critic, and editor known for spotlighting women’s voices — the collection features essays from leading female writers exploring the language that defines and confines women.

Why it’s here:

This essay represents the kind of deeply personal yet universal storytelling I help my clients craft: honest, layered, and emotionally intelligent.

Excerpt:

“Yellow-bone is a loathsome term that we borrowed from American Blacks. Though it refers to all light-skinned black people, in South Africa, it is mostly used to refer to light-skinned black women. Yes: people are woke, Black pride is a thing, and #melaninpoppin is a popular hashtag. But black men post pictures of light-skinned black women, writing that the “yellow-bones” will give them beautiful kids.”
→ Read more on Amazon

Nduduzo Makhathini Brings His Spiritual Jazz to Lincoln Center — OkayAfrica.com

LaPorsha Renae: ‘Motherhood Saved My Life, Changed My Priorities and Brought Me Joy’ (“as told to” essay for a celebrity mom) — Essence.com

Op-Ed: Stop Guilt-Tripping African Women into Motherhood — OkayAfrica.com

The music mastery behind ‘The Woman King’ — Mail & Guardian

A Reading List: 10 Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o Works You Should Know — OkayAfrica.com

Abdullah Ibrahim — a tribute to a living legend — Mail & Guardian

How This Nigerian Woman Is Crossing Africa on a Motorcycle: One Border, One Story at a Time — OkayAfrica.com

Project: Building Authority on LinkedIn for a Wellness Entrepreneur

Client Type: Founder of a women’s wellness company (U.S.)

Goal: Establish authority and increase engagement among midlife women.

What I Did:

Created a monthly thought-leadership cadence: six LinkedIn posts and two feature articles built around her story and expertise.

Outcome:

Her average post engagement rose from under 100 views to 10K+ impressions per post. She was later invited to guest on a major wellness podcast.

Project: CEO Profile for National Business Publication

Client Type: Tech startup founder (South Africa)

Goal: Highlight the company's mission and leadership journey for investor relations.

What I Did:

Interviewed the CEO, crafted a compelling founder story, and edited it for placement in a national outlet.

Outcome:

Secured a feature in a leading daily business newspaper and established the founder as a thought leader in her industry.

Project: Personal Essay Overhaul

Client Type: Mid-level executive writing an op-ed on leadership and gender equity.

Goal: Strengthen structure, sharpen argument, and polish tone for publication.

What I Did:

Performed a deep editorial review with line edits, feedback notes, and a short Loom video explaining suggested revisions.

Outcome:

Essay published on a professional networking platform; received over 5,000 reads in 24 hours.

Project: Memoir Development for a Creative Entrepreneur

Client Type: Visual artist (New York)

Goal: Turn years of personal journals into a publishable memoir.

What I Did:

Structured chapters, ghostwrote 20,000 words, and edited for tone and emotional arc.

Outcome:

Project completed as a private manuscript; currently being pitched to agents.

Project: Business Book Proposal for a South African Female Founder

Goal: Position her leadership insights and journey for publication.

What I Did:

Developed proposal structure, drafted sample chapters, and refined her narrative voice.

Outcome:

Secured agent interest within 60 days.