Knobkerrie costume gets stick

27 August 2015 - 02:08 By Gabi Mbele

Nelson Mandela's face is again a "national costume" attraction for an international pageant. Mrs South Africa, Sara-Kate Scott, will wear a Dennis Lloyd design featuring a hat with Madiba's face on it at the Mrs Universe 2015 pageant in Minsk, Belarus, on Saturday.The bottom part of the dress has a leopard print design, while the top is intended to evoke a South African shrub.And the hat, in the shape of a teardrop, "forms tears in our eyes", according to Lloyd.But the outfit wasn't a hit with local designers.Gavin Rajah described it as a "hot mess"."This dress plays on stereotypes about Africa - leopard print and feathers, which is not only what Africa is about."Gert Johan Coetzee, who has dressed famous names such as Kourtney Kardashian, Kelly Rowland and Kristin Cavallari, said: "Even though Nelson Mandela is a hero and we all love to celebrate him, using his face on a costume for an international competition has been done before."In my mind there is so much more to South Africa with all our rich cultures that could serve as inspiration."Celebrity stylist Camilla Gildenhuys thought the outfit was "a great representation of our continent"."The Nelson Mandela headpiece and knobkerrie are the uniquely South African touches which set it apart from other African countries."..

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