How the French added an extra “Je ne sais quoi” to the 2024 Olympic Medals

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Winning an Olympic gold medal is a crowning achievement for an athlete, so it’s only fitting that the physical medal represents the significance. Every Olympic Games boasts a unique medal design. Still, Paris 2024 is particularly notable because winning athletes will take home a piece of the Eiffel Tower, an iconic landmark of the host city. The medals awarded at this year’s Summer Games are embellished with pieces of the Eiffel Tower.

An 18-gram hexagonal fragment of iron taken from the iconic Paris landmark, which was built for the 1889 World’s Fair, is embedded in each gold, silver and bronze medal. When the Eiffel Tower underwent renovations in the 20th century, they preserved and stored pieces of the original iron. Those chunks make up the hexagon figure in the middle of the Olympic gold medal, connecting the athletes and the audience to a rich historical past. The Eiffel Tower had a staring role in the Paris 2024 opening ceremony. From beaming lights and the Olympic rings to Celine Dion’s comeback performance, “La Tour Eiffel” showcased its grandeur to the world. And now, it will be part of the athletes’ medal collections.

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“Breaking Down Borders” – African TV Series Set To Launch on SABC 1

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Paul Modjadji’s 10 country African tour is chronicled in an enthralling new fourteen-part travelogue on SABC 1, called “Breaking Down Borders.”

Covering countries including Zambia, Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal, the documentary follows Modjadji as he explores Africa’s rich youth and dance culture. Each episode serves up a kaleidoscope of experiences showcasing Africa’s leading landmarks and heritage sites through the eyes of youth activists and artists on home soil.

Modjadji travels with close friends and family — sister Nthabiseng Modjadji, the tour coordinator, Sibusiso Mahlangu a filmmaker and photographer, and dancer Ginger Wensky. The 14-part series culminates with a two-part reunion hosted by Minnie Dlamini.  

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Melrose Arch Set to Become South African Fashion Week’s New Home in September 2024

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South African Fashion Week (SA Fashion Week) will be hosted in Johannesburg’s Melrose Arch Precinct in September this year.

The country’s premier designer fashion platform will be moving into its new home for the Autumn/Winter ‘25 Collections from 26th to 28th September 2024, says director, Lucilla Booyzen.

This year’s event will adopt a dynamic new format that will combine runway shows staged in an intriguing “never-used-before” space in Melrose Arch, with a line-up of lifestyle and brand activations throughout the precinct.

“SA Fashion Week’s vision over the past 27 years has been to explore sustainable business models that can leverage fashion’s economic and social influence for the benefit of all the stakeholders involved,” says Booyzen. “We are delighted to be partnering with one of the city’s most exciting lifestyle precincts, in one of its most historical areas, to develop yet another such mutually beneficial venture.”

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Apple TV+ Celebrates Female Storytellers For Women’s Month

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For the duration of Women’s Month this August, Apple TV+ will be spotlighting storytellers from TV and film to celebrate the inspirational and groundbreaking work crafted by women. 

In Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, Native American actress Lily Gladstone delivers a powerful portrayal of Osage tribe member Mollie Burkhart. The epic film highlights Gladstone’s commanding performance in a riveting narrative of wealth, power, and survival.

The Morning Show, led by Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, continues to captivate audiences with its sharp critique of the media landscape, driven by strong female leads who navigate the complexities of power and public scrutiny in their professional lives.

In the historical drama Lessons in Chemistry, Oscar winner Brie Larson embodies Elizabeth Zott, a chemist who challenges the norms of the 1960s with her brilliant mind and unyielding spirit.


Meanwhile, Rebecca Ferguson stars in Silo, a dystopian drama that explores the human condition in a tightly controlled, subterranean world.




Jennifer Garner brings to life the thrilling narrative of The Last Thing He Told Me, portraying Hannah Hall, a woman unraveling a web of secrets that threaten her family’s safety, based on Laura Dave’s best-selling novel.

Comedy series Loot features Maya Rudolph as Molly Wells, a billionaire finding her footing in the world after a high-profile divorce, and Kristen Wiig delights in Palm Royale, a stylish comedy-drama that sees her navigating the quirks of high society.

Eva Longoria’s turn in Land of Women as a New York socialite escaping to Spain adds a humorous yet poignant touch to our lineup, blending familial duty with personal rediscovery.

The black comedy thriller Bad Sisters boasts a stellar ensemble of Irish talent, including Sharon Horgan as the fierce Eva Garvey, who leads her sisters through the chaos following a family tragedy.

Natalie Portman stars in the thriller Lady in the Lake, portraying an investigative journalist whose quest for truth brings her face-to-face with the systemic issues of 1960s Baltimore.

These are the bold voices in TV and film that are currently shaping the future of entertainment, showing women in South Africa and around the globe, what’s possible when you own your power.



Discover Women’s Month selection here: https://apple.co/WomensMonth2024


 

Empowering South African Talent: The Journey of Ishaarah Abrahams on Shein

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SHEIN, the global fashion and lifestyle e-retailer, is making significant strides in promoting opportunities for young designers and supporting creative innovation in South Africa through its transformative SHEIN X Designer Incubator Program. Since its inception in January 2021, this pioneering initiative has provided over 4,600 designers and artists from 20 countries, including South Africa, with an unparalleled platform to showcase their talents on a global stage. By leveraging SHEIN’s expertise and state-of-the-art on-demand supply chain, the program supports participants at every step, from design conception to global distribution. This initiative not only provides access to advanced resources and technologies, reducing the barriers for young designers to turn their dreams to reality.

Empowering South African Talent: The Journey of Ishaarah Abrahams

Among the remarkable talents nurtured by the SHEIN X Designer Incubator Program is Ishaarah Abrahams a dynamic South African designer and illustrator from Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap. Arnold’s work, characterised by bold colours and contour lines that capture emotion and diversity, has garnered international acclamation. Her collection, featuring eclectic colour-block prints and chic silhouettes, is a testament to her unique vision and cultural heritage.

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