Refilwe Modiselle embarks on a groundbreaking literary journey with debut children's book

South African model and activist Refilwe Modiselle has taken a monumental step in her career by adding "author" to her impressive resume.

In an emotional announcement shared on Instagram, Modiselle expressed her elation: "Adding AUTHOR to my resume is unbelievable! This is an unexpected dream coming to fruition after hearing people for years say, 'When will you write a book Fi?'" 

Her journey culminates in a touching children's book titled “Zizi’s World: Through her Vanilla Eyes”, set to be released on Saturday, June 28.

This literary venture, created in collaboration with the acclaimed Lingua Franca Publishers, aims to empower young readers while promoting themes of inclusion, self-love, and diversity awareness. 

The book tells the story of a young girl with albinism who moves to a new city and learns to embrace her uniqueness despite challenges.

Zizi, a confident girl supported by loving parents, faces uncertainty when she starts primary school and notices few people look like her. With her parents’ help, she finds strength in her identity. 

Modiselle, who has always had a deep affection for children, articulated her vision for the book: "I’ve also always felt like if I had a book to read that had representation for people like me, the world would be a lot kinder in grooming kids with more emotional intelligence." 

Through her story, she hopes to address vital topics such as bullying, respect, and acceptance, touching on experiences close to her heart as a person with albinism.

The book is hailed as the first of its kind in South Africa, bringing much-needed representation to children who often find themselves overlooked in mainstream literature.

"This just wasn’t about writing a book; it was an intentional labour of love to teach children about embracing differences," Modiselle declared.

In her heartfelt post, she shared, “I hope & pray it fuels some education & the culture of reading too.” 

Reflecting on her childhood and the influence of her father's love for reading, she expressed her gratitude for the foundational role it played in her life, stating that her dad would be immensely proud as she embarks on this new phase, coincidentally launching it on his birthday weekend. 

As anticipation builds for the release of “Zizi’s World”, readers are encouraged to mark their calendars for an in-store book signing event on the release day. 

While details on how to purchase the book will be unveiled soon, Modiselle reassured potential readers that there will be something valuable for both kids and adults alike, encouraging a broader audience to engage with her work.