WATCH: Strong women unite in Ballito

Fighting champion Amanda “MadDog” Lino did not pull any punches on International Women’s Day last Thursday, when she spoke about defeating her inner demons.

Lino, the Extreme Fighting Champion (EFC) mixed marshal arts world champion, spoke about her journey through hardship and how she found herself at the Ballito Hirsch’s women’s networking event. She shared some advice on self defense and spoke about a woman’s confidence and identity in the modern world.

“As a child, I was always playing with the boys and I wanted to be on their sports teams. I would rock up at practice in my little school dress and play soccer and rugby with them. Nobody could tell me I could not do that just because I was a girl.

“Eventually the school allowed me to form a girls cricket team and we went all the way to the provincials in our first year.”

Lino explained that after heading down a dark path, learning to fight and competing gave her, her life and her confidence back.

Dozens of women from both near and far enjoyed the morning together with Lino, the friendly Hirsch’s crew and the Ilembe Chamber of Commerce.

Hirsch’s Glenda Thompson said Women’s Day was about women empowering themselves.

“This is us saying it is time for women to be truly equal, with equal salaries and equal power both in the workplace and in life.”

WATCH: Live interview with Lino on her thoughts about Women’s Day and the issues women still face.

https://www.facebook.com/northcoastcourier/videos/1830206470332025/

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