Wendy Figlan’s book is a raw testament to strength, survival

"STRONG on the outside, breaking on the inside," is how Wendy Figlan described the reality that shaped The Beauty and Battle of a Single Mom, a deeply personal book that turns quiet survival into a shared voice.

- LUTHO PASIYA

IN THE Beauty and Battle of a Single Mom, author Wendy Figlan shares a clear eyed account of strength shaped by hardship.

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From the opening pages, Figlan writes with honesty about motherhood lived in tension, holding strength and heartbreak at the same time.

Her book is not framed as a guide or a lesson but as lived truth, told plainly, for women who rarely see their inner lives reflected with care.

"For years I carried my story quietly, balancing strength with silent heartbreak, pretending I was fine while navigating motherhood, work, survival and emotional wounds that had no place to land," she said.

What pushed her to write was not a sudden decision, but the slow realisation that her experience was shared by many.

"The turning point came when I realised how many single mothers were living the same dual life, strong on the outside, breaking on the inside."

As her story took shape, it became clear that it did not belong to her alone. Figlan recalled the moments that confirmed this.

"Every time a woman whispered, 'I am going through the same thing,' I knew my story was not just mine," she said.

"It belonged to every mother who has ever had to be both anchor and sail, both nurturer and protector, both soft and strong."

The book speaks to women who are often expected to cope without complaint, and who are praised for resilience while their pain goes unseen.