Reinventing Strength - How Suzanne De Jongh Became Body20’s Franchisee of the Year—and a Beacon for Women Everywhere

Reinventing Strength: How Suzanne De Jongh Became Body20’s Franchisee of the Year—and a Beacon for Women Everywhere

When Suzanne De Jongh strides into her Body20 studio in Klerksdorp, the energy in the room shifts. She is all warmth, laughter, and purpose—a woman who has built not just a thriving business but a movement that is changing lives, starting with her own. At 51, Suzanne is the reigning Body20 Franchisee of the Year, a bodybuilding champion, and—perhaps most importantly—a living example of what’s possible when you decide to rewrite your story and become your own hero.

A Corporate High-Flyer, But Unfulfilled

She was a dedicated mother, a loving wife, and a successful professional. But beneath the surface, she was struggling to find fulfilment and balance in her life.

“On paper, I had it all,” she recalls. “But I was exhausted and quietly unfulfilled. There was always another glass ceiling, another layer of politics, and as a woman, I felt it acutely.”

Her breaking point came after a difficult divorce—the kind that leaves you questioning who you are and what’s next. “I realised I’d spent my life putting everyone else first—my colleagues, my family, my marriage. After the divorce, I was forced to look at myself and ask: ‘What do I actually want?’

The Leap: Discovering Body20 and the Power of EMS Technology

The answer came unexpectedly. Suzanne stumbled upon a Body20 EMS demo—20 minutes of electrical muscle stimulation that promised the results of a full gym session. She was deeply sceptical, but curious enough to try.

“I was blown away. That twenty-minute session did more for me than hours in the gym ever did,” she says, laughing.

A Holistic Fitness Solution

She didn’t just join as a member—she invested her pension, her time, and her heart into opening a Body20 studio in Klerksdorp. It was a risk that many called foolish, but for Suzanne, it was the first step towards reclaiming her life. Her courage in taking this leap of faith is truly inspiring.

“I put everything I had into the studio. The early days were tough. I didn’t pay myself a salary, I worked seven days a week, but I was finally building something that mattered to me.”

What sets the Body20 Franchise apart is its holistic approach. The offering goes far beyond quick, efficient EMS workouts. Every member receives a comprehensive InBody scan to track their muscle, fat, water, and mineral levels. Certified coaches tailor sessions to the individual, ensuring both safety and maximum effectiveness. Nutritionists provide personalised meal plans to support goals, while emotional wellness is reinforced through community and accountability.

Maximising Your Two Most Valuable Resources—Time and Health

The Body20 concept is built around two things you can never get back: time and health. With EMS, members achieve the results of hours in the gym in a fraction of the time. The holistic structure ensures results are not only fast but sustainable.

“Most of my clients are women over 40—perimenopausal, menopausal, or just overwhelmed by life’s demands. What they need most isn’t just a workout. They need support, education, and a community that gets it.”

Her studio quickly became a haven for women who felt overlooked by traditional gyms. “We’re not just changing bodies—we’re changing mindsets. Women come in thinking it’s too late for them, that their best years are behind them. But once they start feeling stronger, everything shifts—their confidence, their relationships, even their careers.”

Leading By Example: From Studio Owner to Bodybuilding Champion

Suzanne’s own transformation is central to her leadership. After months of 16-hour days building her business and a second venture, she found herself struggling with her health. “I realised I couldn’t just tell my clients what to do—I had to do it myself.”

Her personal transformation reached new heights when, on 1 August 2024, she began her own journey alongside her clients. “I wanted to go through what the members go through,” she says. “Many women think it’s easy when you’re younger, but harder when you’re older. I wanted to understand the process—especially the eating, which is often the hardest.”

Initially, she weighed 67.3 kilograms, with 30.1% body fat and 26.3 kilograms of muscle. A year later, she was 59 kilograms, with 30 kilograms of muscle and just 10% body fat—having dropped 14 kilograms of fat.

Competing had always been a dream, and precisely a year later, she stepped on stage at the Puma Classic. The Welkom Classic followed this, and soon after, she earned her pro card at the Fire and Ice competition.

“The message is simple: you can do anything you put your mind to, no matter your age. I started at 50, and by 51, I was competing on stage. It’s never too late to begin.” Suzanne's story is a testament to the transformative power of determination and resilience, inspiring clients and families alike to embrace healthier, stronger, and more fulfilling lives.

The Real Work: Healing and Self-Love

But Suzanne’s journey isn’t just about muscle and medals. It’s about healing—emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. The pain of divorce, years of people-pleasing, and her own harsh inner critic forced her to confront the deeper work of self-love and acceptance.

“Self-love isn’t bubble baths and spa days. It’s waking up every day and choosing yourself, even when it’s hard. It’s looking at yourself with compassion instead of criticism.”

She is candid about the challenges. “Some days, you’re going to fall apart. But the beauty is in getting back up, in asking for help, and in finding your tribe.”

Faith as Foundation

Raised in a Christian home, Suzanne’s faith remains central, if more personal than institutional. “I believe in a higher power, and prayer grounds me. I don’t need a formal church to connect with God. My faith gave me the courage to leap, to trust the process, and to be present for the journey—not just the destination.”

Changing the Conversation on Nutrition and Fitness

Education is as vital as exercise. Suzanne is passionate about debunking nutrition myths, especially those targeting women. “Diet culture tells us to eat less, do more—especially as we age. It’s nonsense. Most women who come here are under-eating, over-stressed, and wondering why nothing changes. We teach them to fuel their bodies, to eat for energy and strength, not just for the scale.”

When women start eating enough and training smart, their bodies respond in powerful ways. “It’s about thriving, not depriving.”

Resilience, Community, and the Role of Support

Despite her studio’s success, Suzanne is open about the challenges it faces. “About 30% of clients fall off after a few months when motivation dips. We work hard to support them, but lasting change comes from within. That’s why community is so important—when women support each other, they go further.”

Body20 Klerksdorp runs group challenges, education sessions, and social events to keep members connected and motivated. “We celebrate every win, big or small. We remind women that it’s okay to stumble if you get back up.”

Beyond the Studio: Giving Back and Paying It Forward

Suzanne’s impact stretches far beyond her studio walls. She partners with local organisations, runs wellness campaigns, and mentors other women in business. Her vision is to make Klerksdorp a model for wellness and empowerment, proving that world-class results are possible anywhere.

“Women are so much stronger than they realise. My mission is to help them see it for themselves.”

Advice for Readers: Start Where You Are

Suzanne’s advice to Women’s Health readers is both practical and profound: “Start small. Don’t wait for the perfect moment—it doesn’t exist. Find a community, ask for help, and don’t be afraid to fail. Transformation is a journey, not a finish line. You become stronger with every step.”

She encourages women to put themselves first, not out of selfishness, but out of necessity. “You can’t pour from an empty cup. The best thing you can do for your family, your work, and your future is to invest in yourself.”

Legacy: A Beacon of Strength and Possibility

Looking ahead, Suzanne hopes her story inspires other women to take control of their lives, at any age and in any circumstance. “You are allowed to change. You are allowed to want more. And you are allowed to go after it, unapologetically.”

As Body20 Franchisee of the Year, a bodybuilding champion, and—by her own definition—a work in progress, Suzanne De Jongh is proof that her best chapters are still unwritten. Her journey is a rallying cry for women everywhere: strength is not just in the body, but in the courage to begin again.

About Body20:

Body20 is a national EMS (Electro Muscle Stimulation) fitness franchise dedicated to transforming lives through science-backed training. With 49 studios across South Africa, Body20 helps members achieve results in just 20 minutes per week, while fostering community wellbeing both inside and outside the studio.

For more information, please visit www.body20.co.za or call 087-231-03559