adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
SIX Bulawayo socialites and fashionistas will battle it out at this year’s inaugural Matabeleland Fashion Week Awards in the style Icon of the Year category.
Matabeleland Fashion Week which will be launched on Saturday, November, 1 at the Heath Streak Academy is meant to honour models, fashion houses, designers and outstanding fashion contributors.
Three ladies and an equal number of men that were shortlisted after fans nominated them through the Matabeleland Fashion Week social media pages Twitter and Facebook, will battle it out.
Fashionista and socialite Mbo Mahocs will lock horns with ZBCTv presenter Nyasha “Diva” Mtamangira who is known for her outlandish hairstyles and outfits and Nkanyeziyethu Malunga a former model and now fashion designer.
In the male category Zimbabwe Fashion Week Style Icon of the Year winner Craig Zoowie, socialite and global citizen Gilmore Tee Moyo and a designer Crox will battle it out.
The brains behind the Matabeleland Fashion Week, Amanda Mtangadura said people have started voting for their favourite style Icons on social media.
“Fashion enthusiasts and the public in general are already voting on social media. They can go to our Facebook page Matabeleland Fashion Week 2014 and inbox their candidate, or e-mail us at [email protected] or they can send them to our Twitter handle @MatFashionWeek with the hash tag #MatFW2014,” she said.
Mtangadura said the two categories had generated a lot of interest as the contestants had made names for themselves in the Zimbabwean fashion industry.
“These categories are really interesting as we have some of the city’s best male and female style icons going head-to-head. All these individuals are relevant in Zimbabwe’s fashion industry as they have their own unique style and we only hope the best will win,” she said.
She said the last public voting category at the launch was the Outstanding Photographer where there are three nominees.
“The final 3 nominees for Outstanding Photographers are KB Mpofu Photography (Khumbulani Mpofu), Le Cyril Photography (Cyril Ncube) and Tasha Creations (Natasha Mhone). The public was asked to submit their nominees for each of the categories. We received a lot of e-mails, Facebook inboxes, comments and Twitter mentions. It is exciting to know that they are individuals who are game changers in the Fashion industry, especially from and within the Matabeleland region,” she said.
Mtangadura said on the night judges will choose the best female and male model that would be the faces of the Matabeleland Fashion Week next year.
“The Best Female and Male awards will be given out to outstanding models.
These two individuals will automatically become the faces of Matabeleland Fashion Week 2015,” she said.
On the Designers and creative side, there will be the Best Female, Best Male Designers and Outstanding Display of designs.
Online Reporter