Who’s that girl?

Long ago in magazine world, people believed that putting a local star on your cover was tantamount to career suicide. No one’s interested in South African women, they said. People only want to read about Hollywood A-listers, they said. (This was right about the time they believed the world was flat, perms were a good look and George Michael was straight).

How awesome that we live in a time where local is queen and successful beautiful South African women are lining the magazine shelves with their glossy covers, because let’s face it, there’s nothing more inspiring that seeing someone who could be you, taking over the world.

So when our first ever local cover girl Bonang Matheba invited me to a little shindig she was throwing together in honour of our October issue, I said ‘hell yes’ and mentally planned what would look good with my new fuchsia heels.

And so I rocked up at Liquid Chefs in Rosebank last night in jeans, heels and my only clean top that didn’t need ironing to celebrate Queen B’s triumph. The venue was transformed into an oasis of pink balloons, cushions, cupcakes and marshmallows by social guru Melanie Ramjee, who also had our cover blown up into three large posters that dominated the cocktail lounge.

Brutal Fruit flowed, beautiful people mingled and I made a bee line for the super-sweet and ridiculously talented designer Gert-Johan Coetzee who designed the sparkly sequin jacket Bonang sports on the cover. I’m always intimidated by designers but he really is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met (plus we kind of look related).

Speaking of nice guys, our CLEO Bachelor 2010 Dylan King was also there with PR princess Farah Fortune. After huddling together over some exciting plans we have in the pipeline (watch this space), I spotted the Yfm twins and had an embarrassing fan moment.

I launched myself at the sisters who are both sporting the short and shaved hair ‘do but with Melanie’s help I soon figured out that Hlelo (rhymes with yellow) was in the buttercup frock and Ntando was in black.  Also celebrating the success of their own magazine cover, the girls are just lovely and taking it all in.

As for the woman of the hour, Bonang was a gracious host, chatting to everyone, working it for the numerous TV cameras and photographers, and in the end, handing out shots of tequila to us die-hards. She even gave me the most beautiful flowers to say thank you for the beginning of a beautiful friendship. After just over a week on sale, the issue has received an overwhelming response and Bonang, the news of a certain stylish award nomination. Thank you to everyone who’s already bought it and loved it.

A big thank you too to Melanie for such a great night out, on a school night no less. 

Let’s do it again sometime. 

xoxo