Briefly... In her shoes, Marie Claire's women's month campaign

It takes a real man to stand up against gender-based violence and experience life in a woman’s shoes. To honour women’s month, Marie Claire magazine invited 18 local celebrities to step up to the challenge.

The powerful photographs, taken by South African photographer Steve Tanchel, appear in the August issue of Marie Claire, on sale Monday 20 July 2015.

The #MCInHerShoes campaign encourages us all to stop and remember our role in bringing an end to gender-based violence in South Africa. To stand up for ourselves and others in the face of it, and to bring attention to those in need when we see them.

To this aim, we are launching a CSI initiative on Monday 20 July, which encourages South Africans to post the phrase, ‘I stand for women’ #MCInHerShoes to social media. For every person who posts this phrase and the hashtag, Marie Claire will donate R5 to St Anne’s Home in Woodstock, Cape Town, which provides shelter, care and empowerment to destitute, abused and disadvantaged mothers and children.

“We needed a strong visual statement that embodied that violence against women is not just a female problem,” says Marie Claire editor, Aspasia Karras. “It’s everyone’s problem. I am so proud of these men for taking a stand and walking in our shoes.”

Siv Ngesi, actor and comedian: ‘This campaign is inspiring. I want to tell other men, enough with this nonsense. We have to take a stand.’

Janez Vermeiren, TV personality: ‘My message to all men in South Africa is that it is time to man up. Violence against women is totally unacceptable.’

Gareth Cliff, radio and TV personality: ‘Men have to stop being assholes. Men have to start doing the right thing even when no one is looking.’

Celebrities involved:

Siv Ngesi, actor and comedian

Janez Vermeiren, TV personality

Maps Maponyane, model and TV personality

Mi Casa (Mo-T, J’Something, Dr Duda)

Oneal, CliffCentral producer

Jimmy Nevis, musician

Siya Sangweni-Fynn, CliffCentral presenter

Arye Kellman, Cliffcentral presenter

Euphonik, DJ and radio presenter

Tom Revington, Shortstraw musician