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Destination Success!
Mon, 08 Feb 2010
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Read more about how the finale went down, who made the Top 5 cut, and finally which of the models shone in the Top 3 before Lukando took the crown! |
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On Saturday February 6, in a stylish haute couture showcase 22-year-old Lukando Nalungwe from Zambia joined an exclusive group of winners when she was named the eighth and newest M-Net Face of Africa. The striking model scooped USD 50 000 from M-Net along with a modeling contract from O Model Africa and skincare products for 12 months from Iman Cosmetics.
The Look
Re-invention and innovation are hot buzzwords for the global fashion community and in a two-hour show, screened live from Lagos to 47 countries across Africa, M-Net presented a bold new vision for the Face of Africa Final opting for an edgier version of a traditional runway show and presenting the models on a black, floor-based runway in a contemporary warehouse.
With the Final themed to resemble the loading warehouse of an art museum, where precious gallery pieces are prepared for display, the staging included massive cargo boxes stamped with African destinations with extra-ordinary sized gold frames that showcased the fashion and the finalists; and packaging tape demarcating the runway from the show’s seated guests, it was a uniquely fresh approach to showcasing Afro-chic expression.
The Presenters
Hosted by Studio 53’s Fareed Khimani (Kenya) and former Face of Africa Kaone Kario (Botswana) with a guest appearance by last season’s Face of Africa Kate Menson (Ghana), the finale included entertainment from Nigerian superstar D’banj belting out his hits Suddenly and Fall in Love. Meanwhile soulful South African songstress Lira, shimmering in green silk, showed why she’s one of Africa’s rising stars with two brilliant performances of her hits Feel Good and Believer!
The night belonged to the Top 10...
But the night belonged to the TOP 10 – and from the minute that Nigeria’s Marvis kicked off the show, followed in rapid success by Tholakele (Zimbabwe), Lilian (Tanzania), Esperanca (Angola), Thembi (South Africa), Blessing (Nigeria), Rosanna (Zimbabwe), Diana (Kenya), Ernania (Mozambique) and Lukando (Zambia), it was very clear just who the stars of the show really were.
Showing how much they’ve learnt during the Face of Africa search, which DStv audiences have been following for 15 weeks, the Face of Africa TOP 10 hit the catwalk with confidence, graceful as they strode down the catwalk resplendent in garments designed by the best of African designers.
Among the record 26 designers sending their creations down the runway were a Nigerian contingent that included - Zizi Cardow, Frank Osodi, Odio Mimonet, Fati Asibelua, Folake Folarin-Coker, Ituen Basi, Adebayo Jones, Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi, Lisa Folawiyo and Yemi Osunkoya.
Joining them were their counterparts from across the continent led by featured designers John Kaveke (Kenya) and David Tlale (South Africa)and including Anna Getaneh (Ethiopia), Kofi Ansah (Ghana), Anisa Mpungwe (Tanzania), Gloria WavaMunno (Uganda), Chakirra Claasen (Namibia), Cathy Kathunzi (Malawi), Koketso Chiepe (Botswana), Liz Ogumbo (Kenya), Taibo Bacar (Mozambique) and Angela Mulenga (Zambia).
Designer Style
And in living up to its reputation for merging African design with the latest in international trends, the Face of Africa Final included the unmistakable style of Christian Lacroix, Versace and Emmanuel Ungaro while jewelery maestro Chris Aire brought his signature style to the fashion accessories utilized.
Then with all the fashion over, it was time for the big moment, the announcement of the M-Net Face of Africa 2010. Returning to the platform that made her a star a decade ago, the always elegant Oluchi, was on hand to reveal the winner and she soon revealed Lukando’s success.
Commenting on the event, M-Net MD Biola Alabi congratulated Lukando on her win saying,
“It’s an incredible thing to watch someone’s life literally change in front of your eyes and when it happens live in front of a continent, it is remarkable and a very special moment. We are very proud of Lukando and all of the TOP 10 for their determination and focus and want to thank them for sharing this journey so openly.”
Keep Watching: Next Up, the Big Apple
With Lukando now jetting off to New York with M-Net to participate in New York Fashion Week, courtesy of Arise magazine, attention will now move to how she fares in the Big Apple, and over the next two weeks (every Saturday at 19.00 CAT) DStv audiences can watch her take her first steps to stardom on M-Net with two special “wrap up” episodes.
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