By Zee:
Darlings. Darlings. Darlings.
When I say Proudly SA did not come to play this Mother’s Day, I mean they came to snatch wigs, set standards, and leave every woman in the room feeling like a queen with a throne made of rosé.
The Venue at The Leslie? Transformed. Think Bridgerton meets Sandton glam, with a red carpet so plush it could’ve doubled as a runway. I glided in – fashionably late, of course – in head-to-toe drama: feathers, heels so high they came with a warning label, and a hat that nearly caused turbulence at OR Tambo.
Champagne was flowing like gossip kumgidi kaMthutswane – and not just any bubbles, darling, but Proudly SA’s finest local MCCs. I had one in each hand. Hydration is key. The harvest table? Unspeakably decadent. Mini quiches whispered sweet nothings to me. The croissants? So buttery, I almost proposed.
And just as I was contemplating my third mimosa, she arrived. Enter Sophie Ndaba – yes, Queen Moroka herself. The woman who taught an entire generation how to serve face and run an empire. She swept in with the quiet thunder of someone who doesn’t need to speak to command a room. Her glow was divine, her presence was spiritual, and her shoes? Dior, probably.
But then – Ma’am – just when I thought the air couldn’t hold more icons, I turned and came face to face with none other than Hangwani Nengovhela. Fashion designer, tastemaker, matriarch of modern elegance – and now? A glam-granny. I kid you not. The woman looked ten years younger than me, and I was wearing two serums and a prayer. Hangwani’s aura is haute couture. We chatted about legacy, luxury, and lipstick shades. She’s warm, whip-smart, and still makes style look effortless — like a kaftan in a storm. She didn’t need the spotlight – it followed her.
The energy in that room was electric. Then, Proudly SA’s powerhouse CMO, Happy MaKhumalo Ngidi, took the mic and invited us to share our stories. And you know I had to. I tossed my curls. I stepped forward.
“Motherhood is a battlefield, but darling, some of us fight in heels and highlight.”
Applause. Gasps. Someone fanned themselves. (It was hot, but I’m claiming it as a reaction.)
The goodie bags? Divine. The spa day draw? I WON. (Manifesting works, babes.) But the true luxury? Being surrounded by women who are soft yet steel, glamorous yet grounded, mothers and moguls – all in one breath.
To Proudly SA, I raise my mimosa: you didn’t just host an event. You created a sacred space for queens, creatives, and characters like me.
Until next time,
Stay loud. Stay moisturized. And always, stay overdressed. – @NewsSA_Online
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