Ford Supermodel Of The World ( Kenya - East Africa)

In the past couple of weeks, I have had the pleasure of being involved with the Ford Supermodel Of The World competition, the East African edition through my PR and Marketing company Nairobi VIP Parties. 

Like many years before it, this years competition license holder was SuraZuri Models, Kenyas top modeling and casting agency. The Kenyan fashion industry can boast one famous Ford Supermodel Model title holder, Ajuma Naisenyana.  This African beauty went on to have a very successful fashion modeling career in the European and America. She is now back in Kenya, looking to settle down and get involved in the local fashion industry. 

Ajuma has always come back home during the annual Ford Supermodel competition to show these young ladies some support. This year, she was part of judging panel along with myself,  proprietor of Surazuri Models Lyndsey McIntyre, Tiphani Gist an American musician and fashion industry enthusiast, Barbara Minishi a seasoned photographer to whom all the pictures I have posted up on this blog are credited. 

It was a long journey however, I believe we managed to scour the country to find the young ladies who we think (according to  Ford Models NYC criteria) could go and represent Kenya later this year, at the Ford Supermodel of The World competition in New York, to compete for coveted USD250,000 contract!

Here they are!

We had a tie at the 2nd runners up position 

2nd Runners UP ( Sonietta & Elsie)

Above: Sonietta Thomas (2nd Runners Up)

 

Above: Elsie Njeri (2nd Runners Up)

 

Above: Georgina Anderson (1st Runners Up)

 

Above: WINNER FORD SUPERMODEL OF THE WORLD SEARCH (KENYA) :
JOYCE MAKENA

photographs courtesy of Barbara Minishi Photography

Royal Wedding Photos: 'Kenyan' Kate Middleton weds Prince William

You know, I really didn't want to, but the fashionista in me feels like if i don't blog about the fashion at Kate and (the new Duke) Willam's royal wedding today, it will be sacrilege. So here goes... 

Our Kenyan girl, .... Kate Middleton :-), (we are claiming her like we did Obama!), is marrying her Duke today. She arrived at the Abbey in what I think is a stunningly, beautiful, classic, timeless wedding dress. A dress fit for a queen, designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen . I am willing to bet that 60 years from now when her and Prince William will be going through their wedding day album, the pictures of her in this dress, will still look glamorous. I am so glad for Kate that her wedding dress is not as elaborate as Princess Dianas' was. She looked less stressed too. Oh, and the fact that she decided to do her own wedding make-up.... FAB!

The other royal wedding ensemble I am loving is Victoria Beckhams! Apart from the pouting and the obvious paparazzi posses, she's nailed this look! 

New African Online Magazine (Kenya) ~ KASHA!

Meet, Nancie Mwai! An Uber talented stylist whom i first met when she assisted me on a fashion shoot for True Love East Africa magazine last year. Well, it seems like Nancie has been working really hard behind the scenes and recently launched a fresh, stylish and totally funkyfied online magazine that is packed with fashion information from cover to cover. 

Take a moment and have a browse through it via the links below. You will be able to tell at first glance that a lot of work went into putting the magazine together. The photography and post production work on the images is what makes this mag visually appealing. It appears to be quite a comprehensive magazine compared to the other fashion and lifestyle magazines currently in the Kenya market. The beauty of this magazine for me is that it doesn't only feature fashion information from Kenya, it explores fashion news, opinions and trends from other parts of the world by for example, featuring fashion bloggers from other countries.

Along with a blog type website, I think the online magazine concept will do well in the ever growing Kenyan Fashion Industry. It was needed! It's time! So go ahead, if you have any interesting African fashion news, from around the world, that you would like to see featured in KASHA, that's the name of the magazine, please feel free to get in touch with Nancie.  I like the overall look of the mag. Can't wait for the day it comes in print!

The word 'Kasha' is a Swahili word for wardrobe! Very Apt!

website: http://kashamagazine.com
magazine: http://reader.kashamagazine.com/

 Images from Kasha Magazine!

Michelle Njeri Cuthbert

This is my friend Michelle, modeling and looking absolutely BANGIN!! In a fashion spread i did for the magazine Feb. There's a few more fabulous pictures that I'll put up as soon as I get a minute. 

Nairobi Fashion High Tea (Part 2)

Nairobi Fashion High Tea (Part 1)

I promised you i'd put up some pictures of the Fashion High Tea event we hosted in Nairobi, Kenya on Feb 12th. (post below). Well here they are. Enjoy :-) 

I need a hat, gloves and sunglasses !

  

….. Away from my fashion career, which I actually think of as my hobby and not a job, I am  also into PR & marketing. I run an events outfit called “Nairobi VIP Parties”. I absolutely enjoy conceptualizing and executing interesting event ideas. It’s something that I started doing while in the United Kingdom and has carried on for many years. I love it so much, I could probably do it in my sleep. Anyway, at the end of last year, my friends and I sat down and decided to host a fashion event with a difference this year. ..... hence the birth ofThe Fashion High Tea event. 

Dubbed the hottest fashion ticket on Nairobi this year, it’s set to take place on the 12^th Feb 2011 at one of Nairobis’ plush spots called Zen Garden Restaurant and Lounge. Why High Tea? Well, we wanted to bring the high society English tradition of afternoon tea gatherings to our beautiful African city of Nairobi. Waaay back in the day, high tea gatherings dress code was historically associated with elegance and sophistication. Back then, it was compulsory for high society ladies to wear dresses, gloves, hats and gentlemen had to wear jackets and a tie. And so on that day, our guests have been asked to do the same. Ladies to come decked out to the nines in Hats, dresses, sunglasses and the gents in jackets!

Apart from partying and looking fabulous, we shall also be raising money for charity on the day. We’ve managed to get some corporate sponsors on board this project so we are very excited about it!

Below are some images of Zen Garden, our high tea set up and the event poster. After the event, I promise to post some pictures so that you can see what we got up to. In the meantime, i need to find a hat to wear. I am looking for one that is the size of a satellite dish :-)