Gert-Johan Coetzee dresses the finalists of the Miss South Africa Pageant 2023

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Images courtesy of Zebra Square PR

The highly anticipated Miss South Africa 2023 pageant took place on the 13th of August at the SunBet Arena in Time Square, Pretoria. Accompanied by 5 other leading South African designers, Gert-Johan Coetzee presented the five finale gowns, designed specifically for the glittering event and the graceful finalists.  

Coetzee, who is no stranger to designing stunning couture gowns, stated that the handmade pieces took seven women over 2000 hours to craft.  

“In creating the final gowns for the Miss South Africa top 5, I’ve drawn inspiration from the captivating diversity of our country. South Africa’s spirit, especially embodied by its incredible women, is a wellspring of inspiration,” says Coetzee.  “These gowns are a testament to the power of unity – just as countless individual beads come together to form these dresses, our rainbow nation’s strength shines brightest when we stand together.” 

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“Sound of Freedom” releases in cinemas on 18 August 2023

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The independent film, Sound of Freedom, that is based on the incredible true story of a former government agent turned vigilante, who embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue hundreds of children from human trafficking, will release in South African cinemas nationwide on Friday 18 August 2023. The film has been dubbed the “sleeper hit” of the year by critics internationally who did not foresee the remarkable success that it has achieved at the American and European box offices.

During the weekend of 21 – 23 July, Sound of Freedom outperformed Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, according to Rotten Tomatoes, taking third place in earnings behind the “Barbenheimer” behemoth in America. In the weekend prior to that, it outgrossed Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Sound of Freedom is based on the real story of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. Department for Homeland Security agent who conducts sting operations to rescue a young brother and sister from human trafficking in Colombia. Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in Mel Gibson’s 2004 movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” plays Ballard in the movie.

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Apple TV App Launches Women In Power Campaign That Celebrates South African Creatives

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For the duration of August, Apple TV app, will be spotlighting South African storytellers across TV and film in their Women In Power campaign. The work of Micaela Kleinsmith (My Kind of Country), Jodi Balfour (For All Mankind) and Lou Llobell (Foundation) harnesses their innate strength, stirs us to action and inspires us to imagine. 

Micaela Kleinsmith showed a penchant for songwriting from the tender age of 14, and after a successful stint on SA Idols in 2016, went on to perform across almost every stage in and around Cape Town in order to hone her live skills. Her onstage vigour served her well as a contestant on the first season of Apple TV+’s My Kind of Country, as Micaela was first championed by masked country South African singer Orville Peck, before going on to be crowned the winner.

Jodi Balfour graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre & Performance at the University of Cape Town, before relocating to Canada and finally settling in Los Angeles, California. As Ellen Wilson in Apple TV+’s drama, For All Mankind, Jodi plays a budding engineer, who becomes one of NASA’s first female astronauts before fiercely pursuing a political career in season 3 that sees her elected as the nation’s 41st president in 1992.

London-based actress, Lou Llobell, grew up in South Africa after her Zimbabwean mother and Spanish father relocated to Pietermaritzburg when she was eight years old. In Apple TV+’s sci-fi series Foundation she portrays Gaal Dornick, a brilliant mathematical prodigy from the repressed water planet of Synnax. Recruited by Hari Seldon, Gaal becomes an integral part of his plan to preserve civilization.

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Joburg Polo in the Park

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I attended the inaugural Standard Bank Polo in the Park in 2019, and it was indeed a spectacular day!

Now, this much awaited polo event is back for 2023!

African Deluxe Company, event producers of the Joburg Polo in the Park, have officially confirmed the 2023 edition of the Standard Bank Joburg Polo in the Park, set to take place this September at the Polo Fields at the esteemed Inanda Country Base in Kyalami, with tickets sales currently open.

Back for a third year, the Joburg Polo in the Park first launched in 2019, encapsulating the time-honoured sport of Polo with high fashion, good music and delectable gourmet food and drink.

The Standard Bank Joburg Polo in the Park offers a delightful way to enjoy the sport of kings as they host a unique format of polo featuring only three players aside from an inflatable ball, unlike the hard ball used in traditional matches. The game captures the imagination of equestrian lovers in grand style, allowing spectators to get up close to the exciting action while enjoying all the thrills of the matches.

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Kat Sinivasan joins e.tv’s “House of Zwide”

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Photo Credit: KPaparazzi

e.tv‘s hit telenovela, House of Zwide, is set to welcome an exciting addition to its talented cast with the addition of Katleho Sinivasan.

Affectionately known as “Kat”, the musician, TV presenter and actor steps into the role of Zola, a character whose dynamic personality is bound to captivate audiences nationwide. Zola was first introduced as a former schoolmate of the show’s lead, Nkosi (played by Wanda Zuma). Although the pair were not inseparable friends, Zola and Nkosi shared a close bond within the same social circle, which eventually led to Zola receiving an invitation to Nkosi’s unforgettable wedding.

After spending some time overseas, studying film and carving a successful career as a commercial director, Zola is now back in South Africa. His passion for the industry is palpable, and fans will be eager to witness the artistic flair that Kat Sinivasan brings to this intriguing character.

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