Former Oudtshoorn High School learner Drieske Marais achieved an impressive second place in the Ladies Wellness Open Lineup at the Shaye Best Classic 2026.
The competition was held at Corpus Christi Church in Panorama, Cape Town, on 29 August.
Marais has been involved in bodybuilding since 2017.
Her achievement followed months of preparation, with Marais training for the competition since last year. Her journey included early mornings, demanding training sessions, a strict eating programme and numerous personal sacrifices.
Marais is her own coach and takes responsibility for her training and preparation. She said, however, that the support she receives from her friends and family plays an important role in her journey.
For Marais, taking second place represented far more than the final result.
“Standing on that stage was about so much more than a placing. It was about every early morning, every hard training session, every meal when I did not feel like eating it, every sacrifice, every doubt and every moment I wanted to give up – and choosing to keep going anyway,” she said.
While she is proud to have returned home with second place, Marais said the journey to the competition held even greater value.
The season taught her important lessons about discipline, patience and resilience, as well as the importance of trusting herself and the process.
She thanked her friends and family for supporting her through the highs and lows, believing in her when she doubted herself and encouraging her throughout her preparation.
“This achievement may have my name on it, but it carries a little piece of every person who supported me along the way,” she said.
Marais will not be resting for long. She is already preparing to compete again in Cape Town on 26 September.
Although one chapter has closed, her second-place finish marks only the beginning of what she hopes will be a much longer competitive journey.
Her achievement reflects the words that continue to motivate her: “Dreams don’t work unless you do.”
Marais is also the owner of Drieske Transport, a trusted transport company specialising in dry freight and temperature-controlled loads, including fresh fruit and vegetables, on major routes across South Africa. Its fleet includes 15-metre refrigerated trucks and 18-metre tautliners.
She is also an online fitness coach who helps women transform their bodies while improving their overall mental health and wellbeing.
Drawing on her own experience of discipline, training and personal growth, she guides women towards becoming stronger and healthier, both physically and mentally.
Women interested in working with Marais can contact her via WhatsApp on 060 539 8604.
