Win a designer dress for your matric dance

AS AN 18-year old, Ayanda Dlamini couldn’t attend her matric dance because of possible unpaid school fees. Now, the Good Hope FM DJ and actress is involved in giving three matric pupils, who are in a similar position, the chance to attend their matric dances in designer dresses.

“The principal (at Sans Souci Girls’ High) had this rule that if your fees were not paid up, you couldn’t go to the dance. I didn’t know what my fee’s status was at the time but I knew I didn’t want to stress my single mother financially about it so I decided not to go,” says Dlamini.

Years later, Dlamini has partnered with The Cape Town Fashion Council to host the G12 Runway competition for matric pupils and design students. The designers have been tasked with designing dresses that would make any young girl feel special. These will be judged by a panel, including award-winning fashion designer David Tlale and top South African stylist Jackie Burger, and the winning dresses will be donated to three deserving matriculants.

Most matriculants regard matric dances as very special occasions and go all out with designer gowns, even arriving in helicopters and limousines.

“I think the dances are important. It is a time to celebrate the long years of schooling and reaching the goal to finish your schooling. Not many pupils make it to matric, as in SA the drop-out rate is serious. There are girls leaving because of pregnancy and poor choices they have made. The dance is a way of saying: ‘Well done, you have overcome all those challenges and here’s to looking forward to your future ahead’,” says Dlamini.

Her advice for matriculants is: “It is one night, you really don’t need to blow your parents’ bank account. Instead use some of that money for your varsity or college registration fees. Reach out to aunties who can sew to help out. Spread your list to family, perhaps one relative can buy shoes and another your bag. Remember the important thing is to have fun with your friends for the night, real friends won’t judge you for what you look like,” she says.

Also choose a dress that complements your body shape, says Dlamini.

“A one-shoulder dress is not for everyone. Also, choose colours that complement your skin tone, and purple eyeshadow is not for everyone.

“You don’t want to look back at your selfies and be horrified.

“Life really begins after matric. Someone once told me that ‘a man without a vision is a man without a future and a man without a future will always go back to his past’.

“So have that vision that will keep you moving forward and if things don’t seem to be working out, dream another dream and make that happen,” she says.

Enter the online competition at www.g12runway.co.za. Prizes include smartphones and makeovers, and the designers will stand a chance to win design-related equipment. The competition closes today. – Nontando Mposo