If you’ve ever wondered what sheer joy looks like, it might be Thuso Mbedu twirling in a pink floral confection of a gown in the shadow of a giant replica of the Eiffel Tower.
We were gathered at the Sandton Convention Centre on Friday night, in the middle of Africa’s richest mile, to celebrate the latest achievement of the Pietermaritzburg-born actress drawing the notice of Hollywood.
The L’Oréal Paris & Thuso Mbedu event, which also launched the brand’s new Glycolic-Bright range in the country, drew about 700 guests, including Burkhard Pieroth (the French beauty brand’s local president), former beauty queen Liesl Laurie-Mthombeni and influencer Tshepi Vundla.
The dress code for the night, “Strictly black, Parisian chic black”, sounds classy — but in a world where colour pops on Instagram, this event ended up almost looking like a stylish wake.
Arriving at the sixth floor of the venue, first I spot two Mels — one being PR gal Melanie Ramjee and the other Melanie Bala, the broadcasting vet who is proof that 50 is the new sexy.
“Where’s the bar?” asks radio Mel, who thankfully is showing some skin in a short cocktail number in the sea of black, and we head over to grab flutes of Laurent-Perrier Champagne.
On to meeting Banyana Banyana star Thembi Kgatlana, looking dapper in a dark suit.
Thembi, who returned from the Fifa Women’s World Cup a few days ago, told me she arranged for a friend to sort out her threads after Thuso invited her while she was still in Australia at the tournament.
The footballer tells me she’ll be heading back to the US soon where she plays for National Women’s Soccer League club Racing Louisville FC.
Next it’s hello to svelte TV presenter Pearl Modiadie before greeting someone who I had hoped would have been bold enough to break the boring dress code but didn’t.
That’s Lasizwe Dambuza, who has a cute new YouTube series called Awkward Dates which saw him recently go on a date with Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane.
“Sometimes you’ve got to keep it simple to remind them that your face is the prize,” explained Khanyi Mbau’s younger sibling.
Into the ballroom, we snack on smoked salmon blinis, gougères and French onion soup in mini glasses, and later bowls of beef bourguignon on mashed potato and coq au vin.
In between I greet a range of familiar faces such as actresses Kgomotso Christopher (there with her Dubai-based legal eagle husband Calvin), Pearl Thusi and Mampho Brescia.
On to catching up with artist Stoan Seate (of legendary kwaito outfit Bongo Maffin fame) who tells me these days his focus is social entrepreneurship, and my buddy Loyiso Bala, who has also made the jump from music to business, in his case based in the Eastern Cape where he looks after the SABC’s regional stations.
Loyiso was there with his wife Jen and younger bro Phelo.
Now, back to the pretty actress in pink.
The official bits kick off with a performance by my fav poet, Lebo Mashile, before we are welcome by radio gal Poppy Ntshongwana.
When Thuso takes to the stage, the crowd erupts, and the actress is visibly moved.
“Good evening everybody, my goodness! I have only got, like three seconds to freak out,” she exclaims. “The girl is here!” and the crowd goes wild.\
I, though, wish L’Oréal remembered to acknowledge that then-model Kgomotso Primrose Moloantoa paved the way for Thuso, as the brand’s first ever Africa ambassador way back in 2001.
When I get to chat to Thuso a little later, we cover how her acting journey crystallised after she performed a poem at the age of 16 as a grade 10 pupil at Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High.
“I realised that people were in need of someone who can express what they are not able to articulate.”
Tragedy has also been part of her journey, she having suffered the loss of her mom, dad, aunt and the gran who raised her. So, in heralding the beauty brand’s “Walk Your Worth” campaign, I asked the Underground Railroad and Woman King star to share her message for young women going through struggles.
“More than anything, it is to know that we don’t have control over certain things in life. What we can control is how we receive it. Don’t let the struggles bog you down. Allow yourself to breathe, allow yourself to heal. And also, at some point, get up and keep going.”
And the first thing she had when she got back home?
“It’s always chicken!” she said excitedly. “I always miss the food from home, man!”
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.