BIC Helps Empower Young Females Through the Third Edition of the Soleil Squad Competition

BIC, a world leader in stationery, lighters, and shavers, announced today the kick-off of the third edition of its competition titled BIC Soleil Squad. BIC will be accepting entries for the BIC Soleil Squad 2022/2023 from the 30th of September 2022 until the 30th of October 2022.

The BIC Soleil Squad competition is part of the confidence movement titled ‘Shine Your Way’ which was launched in 2020 and aims to motivate and empower young women to reach their best potential, ‘find their shine’, and embrace it. Every year, three South African women are crowned the BIC Soleil Squad. In their role, the BIC Soleil Squad will engage with school girls and young women looking for inspiration and guidance, reaching them through media opportunities, events, and social media platforms.

Expressing her delight in kicking off the third edition of the competition, Lilian Henderson, Marketing Director of BIC in Southeast and Central Africa, said: “In a world where appearances are, in many cases, regarded as the only barometer of success, it is refreshing to engage with young women who believe in and promote individuality, embrace their uniqueness, and celebrate their achievements. In the past two editions of the BIC Soleil Squad competition, we have worked with motivational and established young ladies who were a source of inspiration to many South African females, taking the Soleil Squad competition to new heights. Through this initiative, we hope to further empower young South Africans to be more confident and celebrate their diversity, achievements, and individuality.”

The chosen BIC Soleil Squad 2022/2023 will receive coaching and mentoring sessions from influential figures in the community. They will also receive a year's supply of BIC® Soleil products; ZAR 10,000 in cash each; as well as publicity through social media profiling and photoshoots. The BIC Soleil Squad is expected to host mentorship sessions; run on-ground activities; and take part in speaking opportunities at online and offline events.

The BIC Soleil Squad 2021/2022 included Mandisa Makunga, Khona Dunjwa, and Anarzade Omar. The Squad has done a phenomenal job in driving the ‘Shine Your Way’ messaging and inspiring youth females in South Africa – from health and wellness events to motivational speaking opportunities, all the way to taking part in women empowerment events.

Previously, Amanda Nchukana, Tumelo Matela, and Sherri Andreaswere named the BIC Soleil Squad 2020/2021 who have also led key events in the country including school roadshows encouraging confidence and individuality amongst South African teenagers. 

Interested applicants are invited to submit their applications through the campaign website on www.soleilsquad.co.za by 30 October 2022. All entries will be judged by a panel of judges including BIC representatives and will be announced towards the end of November 2022.

For more information on the BIC Soleil Squad competition visit the website, Facebook page, or Instagram page.

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About the BIC Soleil Squad 

BIC Soleil Squad 2020/2021

Tumelo “Tumi” Matela: a 26-year-old part-time model from Centurion in Gauteng. She studied BCom Communication Management at the University of Pretoria and is currently a Digital Project Coordinator at ‘Don’t Look Down’,a multi-platform media production company and talent agency.

When she is not busy with her day job, she channels her love for music in the entertainment space as DJ Black Shades.

Tumi is an advocate for supporting other women and believes that women must come together to create a better and stronger world.

Instagram handle here.

Sherri Andreas: a 32-year-old entrepreneur, based in Cape Town, South Africa. Sherri is a force of nature. Not one to shy away from setting herself new challenges, she recently launched her own Digital Marketing and PR agency. She obtained her first qualification at Varsity College in Pretoria for a Diploma in Public Relations. Whilst working in the field, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science from the University of South Africa.

Whilst studying, working, and trying to grow a business, prioritizing her charity work has been challenging, but has taught her incredible discipline and perseverance. Sherri is currently working towards her honors and master’s degrees. She volunteers as a Digital Marketing Lecturer at Tsiba Business School and engages in mentorship and influencer work as the opportunities arise.

Instagram handle here.

Amanda Nchukana: a 24-year-old Human Resources (HR) recruiter from Cape Town. She studied Business Administration at the Management College of Southern Africa (MANCOSA).

Amanda speaks fondly of her time as a BIC Soleil Squad ambassador as the experience allowed her to break out of her shell. In her free time, she enjoys posting plus-size fashion tips and style ideas to her YouTube channel and on Instagram. She plans to get her post-graduate qualification in the long run.

Instagram handle here.

BIC Soleil Squad 2021/2022

Anarzade Omar: a 23-year-old who hails from the South of Johannesburg. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Marketing from the University of Johannesburg, and she is currently working at OMM, an online media management agency, as a social media manager.

The year 2022 was momentous for her as she joined the BIC Soleil Squad and was announced as one of the top 10 finalists in the Miss South Africa 2022 competition.

Anarzade is passionate about empowering women and making them feel like their voices matter.

Instagram handle here.

Khona Dunjwa: a 23-year-old who was born and raised in a small village in the Eastern Cape – Zwartwater, Ladyfrere. She graduated from Nelson Mandela University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. In addition to running an online clothing store, she works at the Ford Motor Company in Gqeberha.

In her free time, Khona mentors young girls and is committed to making an impact in her immediate community. Through her online store, Khona works with South African females to build their confidence as she recruits them to model her designs, while coaching them and training them to show confidence in front of the camera.

Instagram handle here.

Mandisa Makunga: a 34-year-old internal audit graduate and Albinism Activist hailing from Gqebehra (Port Elizabeth) in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. In her capacity as an Albinism Activist, she speaks about her journey, highlighting some of the challenges faced by people with Albinism.

She currently works as a Senior Administration Clerk at the Department of Justice and she is currently studying for her bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and Social Services (SC SOC) at the University of South Africa. Mandisa is a philanthropist and motivational speaker who is passionate about diversity and community service. She spends time with young school kids in her community to encourage them to reach their best potential and follow their dreams.

Instagram handle here.

About BIC
A world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday life. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable, essential products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as BIC ® Kids, BIC  FlexTM, BodyMarkTM by BIC ®, Cello®, Djeep ®,Lucky ® Stationery, Rocketbook ®, Soleil®, Tipp-Ex®, Us.TM, Wite-Out®, Inkbox TM  and more. In 2021, BIC Net Sales were 1,831.9 million euros. The Company is listed on “Euronext Paris,” which is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. It received an A- Leadership score from CDP. For more, visit about.bic.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube.