South African Modelling Blog
Ice Models’ Lisa Cowley is one of South Africa’s most successful exports, is now in New York working up a storm. This girl has set the bar for fitness and boasts a body which is the envy of women around the country. Lisa has been in the industry since her teens, and has become a household name. You will have seen her in one of the many cosmopolitan lingerie editions or gracing the cover of condenast’s heavyweight publication, Gentlemans Quarterly.
Swimsuit model Joelle Kayembe is “busting her ass” in bitterly cold London as she tries to support herself following her split from millionaire businessman Bongani Mbindwane.
The 26-year-old is struggling for money after her break-up from the CEO of mining company Platfields.
Her lawyer, Dr Nalini Maharaj, confirmed that Kayemba – who claims she is being shunned by the local industry since details of her break-up surfaced – has travelled to London to find modelling work.
Claims of physical abuse, abortion, sabotage and a pink Salvatore Ferragamo wedding gown torn to shreds emerged prior to the October 6 break-up.
The pair had a traditional ceremony in September last year, but Mbindwane disputes that they were legally married and has said they never concluded the second phase of the ceremony.
Mbindwane this week declined to comment, saying it was a private matter.
Kayembe – the first black woman to grace the cover of SA Sports Illustrated – has since been embroiled in multiple court battles with her ex.
On Friday, the High Court in Johannesburg granted a final order in her favour allowing her the right to continue living in their luxury Sandton home.
Mbindwane is forbidden from setting foot on the property.
But the victory was bitter sweet.
Earlier this week Mbindwane slapped Kayembe with a lawyer’s letter demanding that she pay back R77418 that she spent on his American Express credit card between October 13 and November 23, as well as R189131 for “maliciously” damaging his Audi R8.
The other personal belongings that he wanted her to return to him by last Friday included:
According to the letter of demand from Mbindwane’s attorney, Sam Niselow, Kayembe had replaced the cash, cellphone and scarf with an envelope containing her hospital admission slip for an abortion.
“Your client’s conduct in doing so is malicious in the extreme and calculated to inflict maximum pain on our client,” the letter stated.
It went on to say that when Kayembe terminated her pregnancy when she was already 17 weeks into it, she contravened the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act. Maharaj said her client denied all these allegations. None of the items were returned as they will form part of the pending divorce application, she added.
“The credit card was given to her to use at her disposal, in lieu of the fact that she was to be a lady of leisure and was his bona fide wife whom he instructed not to take on modelling contracts,” Maharaj said. Responding to the demands, including the inference about an alleged illegal abortion, Kayembe told Maharaj in an SMS from London: “I was well within my rights, wasn’t I? It’s my body. I am the one busting my ass off out here in the cold (London) ‘cos no one wants to work with me back home.
“Oh, gosh, this is never going to end.”
source: Sunday Times
by Louise McAuliffe, originally published 11 December 2009
Our very own precious gem, Miss Tatum Keshwar, will be representing South Africa at the Miss World 2009 pageant being held at Gallagher Estates, Johannesburg tomorrow night.
“With just one day to go before the Miss World pageant, I think that everyone in South Africa is hoping that I will take the crown. Of course there are no guarantees. I have done my best, ” said Tatum.
“In my role as Miss South Africa, I have dedicated my year to the South Africa people – this year has been about you. I have tried my hardest. My life is going to start a completely new chapter after I hand over my crown regardless of the possible outcome of the Miss World pageant,” said Keshwar.
Keshwar anticipates a lot of excitement next year. She said: “I would like to get some corporate experience, get into business and possibly a TV presenting career as well.”
Touring around the country with the Miss World contestants has been a special experience for Keshwar. “I got to see South Africa through the eyes of the contestants. Seeing their excitement at viewing all the new places was wonderful. I am now even more convinced that we have a very beautiful county that we should all be proud of.”
Keshwar was also most interested to hear the perceptions that some of the contestants had of South Africa before arriving here in Johannesburg five weeks ago. “I was fielding questions such as do you have lions in your backyard; can you keep a cub as a pet; is there still apartheid and how are people treated nowadays.”
Keshwar said that this was a wonderful opportunity for her to paint a new picture of what South Africa is like. “I highlighted the progress that we have made over the last 15 years of our democracy. The changes that have taken place and how South Africa has grown and gone from strength to strength.
“I think that now with all the ladies seeing the country they can all go home and say that South Africa is beautiful and I am sure that they will walk away from this pageant as 111 more ambassadors for our country.”
Sharing more about her fellow contestants Keshwar said: “It takes a specific personality to take part in this type of pageant and that is why there is such great camaraderie amongst all the ladies.
In mentioning some of the ladies that she has especially gelled with, Keshwar said: “Definitely my room mate Miss Jamaica plus Miss Scotland, Miss France, Miss Gibraltar – there is a huge bunch of us in our group called the ’King African Penguins’ and we have all gotten on so well.
“I must admit that the last six weeks of my reign as Miss South Africa have definitely the most hectic. It has been very demanding on my schedule to keep to my commitments as Miss SA, and making sure that the Miss World contestants have a great time whilst here.”
Keshwar admitted that her energy levels are waning with just one day left before the Miss World pageant. “But I must say that I have had a great physiological advantage with hosting the Miss World pageant, and knowing that locals would come out in their droves to support me.
“Where ever we went people came out screaming my name and that has given me the energy to go the extra mile for the duration of the pageant activities.”
source: Sowetan Online