Liyema Pantsi Reflects on Turning 24 and Her Journey of Self-Discovery

Award-winning artist and influencer Liyema Pantsi recently celebrated her 24th birthday. The milestone came five days ago, and she shared a stunning birthday photoshoot on Instagram with the simple caption: “She’s 24.” Alongside the post, she added heart emojis, giving fans a glimpse into her excitement.

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A post shared by Liyema Pantsi (@liyema_pantsi)

Ahead of her birthday, Liyema posted a Q&A session on her Instagram stories, where fans asked about how she felt turning 24. She responded thoughtfully, saying:

“Maybe it’s strange… but I’ve been excited to turn this age since I was 19. And now I’m here. Feels weird. Anyways, I feel good. I’m learning so much in my 24 years of life. I have learned that solitude shapes you but community sustains you and that the right souls water your becoming. I’ve learned that self-awareness is important. It teaches me truth (whether you are f up or not, you have to accept your shadow self to heal). I’ve also learned that a little selfishness is somehow freeing. I love who I am and I love who I’m becoming. I’m gentle, grounded, and guided.”*

Liyema also shared that she spent her birthday in her hometown, East London. When asked why she chose to celebrate there, she explained:

“I created a life I love in EL. That’s why it was so hard for me to move to Johannesburg. I didn’t want to start over. On top of that, I struggle with drastic change. But I’m still learning to love the big city. Creating friendships and connections from scratch is still hard, but I’m managing. Anyways, it was only fitting to go to EL for my 24th. And I’m so happy I did.”

Her reflections reveal not just the excitement of a birthday but also a deeper journey of growth, self-awareness, and learning to navigate change. Liyema’s honesty about embracing both her solitude and community, as well as accepting her own shadow self, shows the depth behind her public persona.

Liyema Pantsi’s 24th birthday wasn’t just a celebration of age—it was a celebration of who she is becoming, grounded, guided, and full of life.