Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Minnie walks Paris Fashion Week runway, meets Venus
ACTRESS and media personality Minnie Dlamini, 31, has described her experience at Paris Fashion Week as “a dream come true”.
She was in France for one of the most renowned fashion shows in the world – Paris Fashion Week.
Last weekend she walked for South African brand JessicaJane, owned by Jessica Molebatsi, who showcased her French-Xhosa range.
“I’ve always wanted to walk at an international fashion week, so this really is a dream come true,” Dlamini said.
Dlamini, a close friend of Molebatsi, showed off the Xhosa-inspired bridal look on her international runway debut.
Molebatsi created many pieces for this collection, including the wool handcrafted skirt and top, Noluthando print tracksuits and Swarovski-embellished Shweshwe.
While excited to strut her stuff on the runway, Dlamini said she was nervous. “I’m always nervous when it comes to performing, so I was just praying the entire time that I don’t fall.”
“I was really excited especially to showcase authentic African fashion globally in JessicaJane,” said Dlamini.
She also bumped into a childhood role model, tennis player Venus Williams. She was so hung up about the meeting she immediately WhatsApped her family, saying she couldn’t breathe.
Once she gained control of her nerves, she posted a picture of Williams and herself on Instagram.
She wrote: “I literally can’t breathe. That is the message I sent to my family group as soon as I saw her. I tried really hard to tell her how much she and her sister mean to me.”
Dlamini described working with Molebatsi as an honour and a privilege. “Jessica and I have been friends for a while and I was one of the first South African personalities to wear her garments, so this a full-circle moment to be the show-stopper at her first fashion week show. That being Paris Fashion Week is the cherry on top.”
She said aside from supporting her friend, it was also important to show her support for the beauty of South African women and fashion.
“More than my friendship with Jessica, this was a moment to show not only South Africa but the world the beauty of South African women and fashion.
“Women need to support each other more and even though we have our differences, we are more powerful when we stand together.”
She added that she was incredibly proud of Molebatsi and what she has achieved in her career so far.