From the jam-packed launch of a beauty hit that puts inclusion first, to the screening of a 1980s blockbuster reboot (that I almost missed) and on to the Africa Day opening of a new store by a label celebrating Nguni prints … aah, this was one of those “spoilt for choice” weeks on the social scene when it felt as though the pandemic had left the party.
First up, the return of the flick that made aviator shades cool and Tom Cruise a Hollywood star — Top Gun: Maverick.
However, an evacuation announcement over the PA system at the Mall of Africa in Midrand, where the local premiere was held on Tuesday under the “M-Net Movie Night” banner, saw me join a frantic crowd racing for the exit.
It turned out be a false alarm, so back into the Ster-Kinekor Imax theatre to tuck into popcorn. Guests who came out included actor Sisanda Henna, who brought his son Hanniel, 11, and someone I last saw when I put on my designer hat to make an appearance on the drama series she stars in.
That’s Reandi Grey, who plays Elizabeth Price on Legacy.
With the news that the pay channel has decided to cancel the telenovela-style series, I ask if there’s anything in the pipeline. Reandi tells me she might soon be appearing on another channel in the MultiChoice stable.
From fighter jets to fashion as local brand House of FabroSanz cut the ribbon for their first flagship store at Legacy Corner Mall, part of Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton.
There I caught up with Criselda Kananda (who has an honorary doctorate from the University of Zululand), who tells me she’s happy in corporate, having hung up her radio mic a few years ago.
“I’m in corporate now; making money,” says the feisty activist who is now is an exec for 3Sixty Global Solutions, owned by the Numsa Investment Co.
Criselda was there to support her daughter Thando, a fashion design student who works for House of FabroSanz.
Then it’s on to greeting DJ Zinhle Jiyane, who looks the height of cool.
Sipping on slightly too sweet sparkling wine and tucking into a very Mzansi menu, including mince-filled vetkoek and chicken gizzards on skewers, we hear from founder Sandi Mazibuko about the store that features an elegant take on Zulu architecture and motifs.
On to Thursday, and the week’s biggest party to celebrate the arrival on our shelves of Fenty Beauty, the enormously successful beauty brand that has made Rihanna a dollar billionaire.
The official party for the launch of Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin was held at the chic Sandton spot Monarch from 7pm until midnight (the idea being that guests could trek to nearby Sandton City afterwards to be the first to score such products as its fêted Gloss Bomb lippy and those whopping 50 shades of foundation).
Sadly, with the Barbados hitmaker on a work pause to spend time with her two-week-old baby son, I had to settle for schmoozing her makeup artist, Hector Espinal, and local Fenty fans.
Unnervingly, this was the sort of do where bouncers were more keen on checking invitations than vaccination certificates, and where it was virtually impossible to socially distance because the whole of Joburg had been invited anyway.
At the illuminated entrance to the restaurant-cum-nightspot, dubbed “Fenty Club” for the evening, I say hello to Tansey Coetzee and Johanna Makgalemele (formerly Mukoki) before catching up with Ayanda Thabethe, the TV star who broke the internet when she announced her pregnancy in a dreamy vid in the desert early this year.
Ayanda, there with her makeup artist sis Lungile with whom she shares a makeup line, is wearing a bodycon dress showing off her curves. I can hardly believe that this is the same woman who, like Rihanna, just gave birth to a son a few weeks ago.
I’d heard that the former Top Billing presenter’s next TV move will have a bit of a sporting twist, but Ayanda was keeping mum about her plans.
Someone keeping her phone in full view (a nod, perhaps, to the recent sponsorship deal she announced?) was actress Linda Mthoba.
Sitting quietly in a corner is a rising new face — Zamani Mbatha, the little brother of Nomzamo, who is steaming up the small screen on e.tv’s racy show Black Door.
I then say hello to another new mom, Blue Mbombo, and catch up with actress Mampho Brescia before meeting Max Priebatsch of the family business, African Sales Co, which is responsible for bringing Fenty to the continent.
Next I meet Terry Dale, head of marketing for Retailability, the Durban-based operation that not so long ago took over the ailing Edgars — which, along with Arc, will be stocking Rihanna’s cosmetics.
I ask Terry if this might help Edgars get back to the top in the beauty space. “We don’t need to come back. We are already established as a credible beauty business,” the marketer insists.
“I am so honoured to be here, it is mind-blowing. We are so excited,” says Hector when he gets up to welcome everyone from the DJ booth. The night included performances by DBN Gogo, Kamo Mphela and the sassy DJ on everyone’s lips after rapper Drake announced he’s a fan, Uncle Waffles.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.