Confidence Is a Muscle: Women Challenged to Own Their Presence

By Dizindaba Staff Reporter & ChatGPT | Wellington | 08 October 2026

Women from across the Cape Winelands were encouraged to step into confidence, creativity and connection during the SACBW Cape Winelands Sisterhood session held under the theme, “Ladies, Get Ready to Take the Runway.”

International Confidence Coach Linda Macaskill challenged women to think beyond what they wear and to consider how they show up in the world.

With the dress code “Inspiration from Creation,” the session explored the relationship between appearance, confidence and personal presence.

One of the key messages was that “we dress from the inside out.” Macaskill reminded the women that confidence is not something that simply exists within us—it is a muscle that needs to be trained.

The women were asked what they would want people to notice about them when they walk into a room. Many identified knowledge as an important quality.

But knowledge, Macaskill emphasised, only becomes powerful when it is applied.

The discussion also highlighted how clothing can influence the way we feel and carry ourselves. Developing a personal dress-up routine can help create a sense of readiness and set the tone for how we present ourselves to others.

But confidence is about more than looking the part.

Women were encouraged to enter a room boldly, confidently and with approachability, particularly when entering spaces where they want to do business, build relationships or make an impact.

The session also introduced the powerful idea that “motion produces emotion”—a reminder that how we move and carry ourselves can influence how we feel.

For the women who attended, the runway was therefore about much more than fashion. It became a metaphor for life, business and leadership: show up, be seen, be confident and put your knowledge into action.

As women continue to take their place in business and society, the message was clear: confidence must be practised, presence must be intentional, and the woman you present to the world must first be built from within.

I think this version would work particularly well for Dizindaba’s website and social platforms, because it turns the event into a lesson readers can take away, rather than simply reporting what happened.

Women from across the Cape Winelands were encouraged to step into confidence, creativity and connection during the SACBW Cape Winelands Sisterhood session held under the theme, “Ladies, Get Ready to Take the Runway.”

International Confidence Coach Linda Macaskill challenged women to think beyond what they wear and to consider how they show up in the world.

With the dress code “Inspiration from Creation,” the session explored the relationship between appearance, confidence and personal presence.

One of the key messages was that “we dress from the inside out.” Macaskill reminded the women that confidence is not something that simply exists within us—it is a muscle that needs to be trained.

The women were asked what they would want people to notice about them when they walk into a room. Many identified knowledge as an important quality.

But knowledge, Macaskill emphasised, only becomes powerful when it is applied.

The discussion also highlighted how clothing can influence the way we feel and carry ourselves. Developing a personal dress-up routine can help create a sense of readiness and set the tone for how we present ourselves to others.

But confidence is about more than looking the part.

Women were encouraged to enter a room boldly, confidently and with approachability, particularly when entering spaces where they want to do business, build relationships or make an impact.

The session also introduced the powerful idea that “motion produces emotion”—a reminder that how we move and carry ourselves can influence how we feel.

For the women who attended, the runway was therefore about much more than fashion. It became a metaphor for life, business and leadership: show up, be seen, be confident and put your knowledge into action.

As women continue to take their place in business and society, the message was clear: confidence must be practised, presence must be intentional, and the woman you present to the world must first be built from within.