Take a Broadway legend known for making a memorable Met Gala entrance, a German-American swimwear supermodel turned TV star and a Tanzanian musical superstar.
Add the first big public appearance for an actress best known for appearing in a cult supernatural series and her Olympic gold-medallist snowboarding beau, two of Mzansi’s most glamorous gals and an Aussie zookeeper following in the footsteps of his late The Crocodile Hunter dad.
Those were just a few of the local and international stars who walked the green carpet on Wednesday evening in Cape Town for an eco-gala hosted by British royal, Prince William, for his Earthshot Prize which champions clever ideas to help heal the planet.
First to arrive a couple of hours prior to the ceremony (for the first time aired live across Africa on MultiChoice’s platforms) were representatives from the 15 climate innovators vying for five prizes of £1m (about R22.7m) each.
People such as Kelly Adams from the US, who has come up with a smart way of turning heat lost during high temperature cement and metal production into energy; South African-born Scotsman Douglas Martin, who is saving wild salmon stocks by developing a plant-based omega-3 source; and Francis Nderitu, whose Kenyan outfit Keep IT Cool helps small- scale farmers and fishers trim waste through mobile fridges.
While we didn’t have a chance to speak to the Prince of Wales on the carpet (I was keen to chat about his facial follicles which might be a tad too sparse to be called a beard), I did manage to ask Hannah Jones, the CEO of the prize, about Will’s environmentally conscious off-the-peg choices.
“He understands as well as anyone the impact of fashion,” said Hannah about the prince’s wardrobe which included eco-friendly sneakers from an Earthshot finalist to complete his ensemble of pale shirt, grey check double-breasted jacket and black trousers.
While the prince’s outfit was rather relaxed, actor-singer Billy Porter, who co-hosted the awards with social media darling Bonang Matheba, went high fashion Mzansi style in a monochrome ensemble by David Tlale.
My fav green carpet look, though, was the vintage Halston that Heidi Klum wore.
“I feel that Prince William’s wife, Princess Kate, has always been an amazing role model. We have seen her over the years always wearing and rewearing pieces from her closet — and we have to do more of that ourselves. We have to shop in our own closet,” says the America’s Got Talent judge, whose career catapulted after appearing on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimwear edition in 1998.
Wearing a Carly Cushnie “Bardot-style” dress was Canadian actress Nina Dobrev, who garnered a legion of fans for her roles in The Vampire Diaries.
“I really wanted to support a black designer. I am a big fan of Carly’s and everything that she does. She makes impeccable dresses for women,” said Nina, sporting a gorgeous five carat diamond engagement ring; the event marked the first public appearance for the actress and Shaun White after their engagement a week earlier.
Showing off his pecs was hugely popular Tanzanian artist Naseeb Abdul Juma Issack, better known as Diamond Platnumz, while Canadian fashion model Winnie Harlow opted for a chocolate-coloured vegan leather dress with a faux fur trim.
“I think it is really important when you have a lot of eyes on you, to help focus those eyes on really important things — especially things which affect everyone on this beautiful Earth that we have,” said Winnie about her involvement with Earthshot.
While this was Winnie’s first time in South Africa, it was a return for Robert Irwin, who has inherited his late father Steve Irwin’s passion for conservation. “I’ve been here many times. This city means a lot to me,” said the 20-year-old, who, along with Nomzamo Mbatha, is an Earthshot global ambassador.
On to the awards, and when the show starts it turns out to be a thrilling production, despite a no-show from Nigerian hit maker Davido (is that why the Ndlovu Youth Choir performs twice?).
The audience erupts when Ghana’s Gayo (Green Africa Youth Organisation) and Keep IT Cool both win their categories, while the other prizes go to Kelly’s Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems, the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.
While the Brits love their monarchy, across the channel in France they chopped off their coifs.
Nonetheless, when it comes to tiny bubbles, there are copious blue blood references. Coupe glasses, which were the vessels of choice for champagne until the 1970s, are said to be modelled on Marie Antoinette’s breasts. And, as I discovered on Thursday afternoon, when you uncork a bottle of bubbly the right way, it emits “a royal fart”.
We were at the exclusive sneak preview of the 2024 Absa Champagne in Africa Festival, which took place at that most whimsical of venues, Summer Place in Joburg’s swish Hyde Park.
Billed as the largest French champagne festival on the continent, the outing showcases the offerings from over 40 French houses, many of whom are a lot more exclusive than what you’d find in your local bottle shop.
This was a luxurious experience, with a red Ferrari perched on a platform at the entrance. Inside, clear balloons reminiscent of tiny bubbles floated above the venue’s famed pool.
Welcomed by Absa’s Candice Thurston, we got to savour fine fizz such as the King Louis XV cuvée from De Venoge, which arrives in a beautiful orb-like bottle.
On hand to share details was CEO Gilles de la Bassetière, who had flown in from France for the occasion. Gilles confirmed that, despite my reservations a couple of weeks ago at a Champagne Day event, flutes are indeed out — all our bubbly was served in tulip-shaped glasses, which were couriered in from Epernay.
And as for that windy revelation?
It came courtesy of dashing French transplant Hervé Delabesse, who is known as “The French Wine Guy” and who demonstrated that the correct way of opening a bottle of bubbly entails twisting the bottle (not the uncaged cork!) until you hear a very soft and airy “pffff”, which may or may not sound like Louis after he had a bit too much Brie…
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