For Omuhle Gela, motherhood came as a gentle nudge from God — perfectly aligned with His will and fulfilling something she had always longed for. The entrepreneur, philanthropist and actress, best known for her roles in Muvhango and Uzalo, as well as her luxury beauty brand, Ayanna Beauty Bar, wears many titles with grace.

Yet the one that fills her with the most pride is “mom.” For Omuhle, motherhood has been more than just a title — it has been a grounding and transformative journey that’s reshaped how she views life, work and wellness.

 

Today, she’s raising her daughter with love, laughter and lessons that mirror her own evolution as a woman.

 

“My daughter and I have the best relationship. We literally call each other ‘besties’,” she says with a proud smile. “She doesn’t stop talking — honestly, she talks the whole day — but I love it. It shows she’s confident, open and comfortable to express herself.”

 

That bond between mother and daughter has become the heartbeat of everything Omuhle does — from her businesses to her community work. She understands that wellness, whether emotional, physical or spiritual, starts at home. And that’s exactly what inspired her signature event, Mom’s Day Off, now in its fourth year.

 

This year’s event, taking place on 25 October 2025 at The Fortress in Johannesburg, comes at a fitting time, as October marks both World Mental Health Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The day promises restoration, learning and sisterhood for mothers who spend so much of their lives pouring into others.

 

“Mom’s Day Off is more than an event — it’s a movement,” Omuhle explains. “It’s about celebrating the resilience and brilliance of mothers. This year, we want to remind moms that their wellness matters and that self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity.”

 

As a hands-on mother herself, Omuhle admits that finding balance hasn’t always come easy — especially in the early days of her motherhood journey.

 

“In the beginning, as a new mom, I completely exhausted myself. I had my baby during the Covid lockdown, and that meant I had to do everything on my own while in hospital,” she recalls.

 

That same spirit of doing everything herself carried beyond the hospital walls, where she felt she needed to manage every little thing. Eventually, it took its toll and left her drained.

 

But it was the cyberbullying she faced during her pregnancy that planted the seed for her now-beloved Mom’s Day Off event. When her pregnancy news was leaked, she found herself at the centre of cruel online attacks — most of them coming from women.

 

“I didn’t share my pregnancy because I wanted that part of me to myself. But as soon as it was leaked, there were so many speculations. I was bullied over things I didn’t even know, and what was shocking was that the harshest voices came from women. It left me questioning the kind of society we live in,” she shares.

 

Wanting to understand this, Omuhle turned to Instagram, playfully hosting Q&As about motherhood — and soon discovered a beautiful community of moms who still believed in supporting one another. That connection marked the birth of Mom’s Day Off.

 

When it comes to parenting, Omuhle takes a gentle, intentional approach.

 

“I’m definitely a soft parent,” she says with a laugh. “My sister is the opposite — when our kids are together, she’s the one shouting and disciplining them! I prefer to talk things through. I tell my daughter, ‘If you do this, this is what will happen.’ It works for me because I don’t like noise. I’d rather have a calm, respectful space where she understands why something is right or wrong.”

 

But her approach doesn’t negate her instilling lessons of respect and boundaries as a child, among others.

 

That balance of softness and structure is what makes her relationship with her daughter so special. Omuhle is intentional about raising a child rooted in faith, confidence and self-awareness.

 

“My dream is to raise a God-fearing young lady. We always pray together,” she says warmly. “But most importantly, I want her to be confident — to speak up, to know her worth, and to be fearless. I’m proud that she tells me everything. In a world where so much can go wrong, I’m grateful to have a child who communicates so openly. When something’s not right, I’ll see it.”

 

Motherhood, she’s learned, is not about perfection — it’s about presence. And that’s the same message she carries into her work with Mom’s Day Off, creating a safe and nurturing space for mothers to rest, recharge and connect.

Support and a healthy co-parenting relationship, she adds, have been key in helping her find her balance again.

 

“I also needed my own day off,” she says with a chuckle. “I started exercising — though I hated it at first! But now I take time off for a spa day here and there, or just moments to pour back into myself.”

 

As she reflects on her journey, Omuhle smiles softly.

 

“Motherhood is my biggest blessing. It has softened me, grounded me, and made me more aware of what truly matters. I want to live a life my daughter will be proud of — one that shows her that you can be kind, strong, and still take care of yourself.”

 

In Omuhle’s world, motherhood isn’t about having it all — it’s about finding peace in what you already have, and blooming gracefully through every season.