Miss SA 2018: behind the seams of the Top 5's designer gowns
Last night Tamaryn Green, a medical student from Paarl, was named Miss South Africa 2018. Wearing a bespoke Galluzzi e Gini gown with beaded embellishments, she shimmered like the silver crown she was about to don for the first time.
This year, the Miss SA finalists were given the chance to show off their individual style by collaborating with one of six fashion labels to create a custom evening dress to wear during the pageant's glamorous finale.
The idea behind this couture collaboration was to allow each contestant to "reflect her personality" through her fashion choice and to "really show South Africa who she is," explains Miss SA creative director Werner Wessel on the pageant's website.
Here's a closer look at the Top 5's one-off gowns:
The doctor is in! Congratulations @TamarynGreen, you’re a #MissSA2018 top 5 finalist. pic.twitter.com/wB9LEtxwMX
— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) May 27, 2018
TAMARYN GREEN
With sexy cutouts, a sheer flowing cape and beaded fringe detailing around the neckline, the new Miss SA's white gown certainly had stage presence.
"[It's] full of movement and shine," say the designers Cristian Galluzzi and Alessio Gini of Galluzzi e Gini on the Miss SA website.
Numbers don’t lie, congratulations @Thulisa_Keyi, you are a #MissSA2018 top 5 finalist! pic.twitter.com/jB3tswftK3
— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) May 27, 2018
THULISA KEYI
On the Miss SA website, designer Salomie du Plooy says that pageant gowns need to be "extravagant", "visually striking" and "show off a contestant's figure to perfection".
All of which makes sense when you see the high-necked, bling-covered dress she designed for finalist Thulisa Keyi.
Just like @noxolo_ndebele, we crunched the numbers and just had to have her join the #MissSA2018 top 5! pic.twitter.com/epdyB9jJMI
— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) May 27, 2018
NOXOLO NDEBELE
An underwater photograph designer Warrick Gautier took while in Mauritius sparked the idea for Noxolo Ndebele's elegant gown, which had a bit of a vintage feel.
In the snap, the ocean has "magnificent colour and light," explains Gautier on the Miss SA website.
The doctor will see you now! Congratulations #MissSA2018 top 5, @KarishmaRamdev_ pic.twitter.com/ZLMeFPeuxw
— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) May 27, 2018
KARISHMA RAMDEV
Karishma Ramdev donned a daring sheer bejeweled mini dress with a red overskirt for the pageant's finale.
The gown was mainly inspired by Ramdev's shining personality and strength, both as a person and as a competitor, explains designer Anél Botha on the Miss SA website.
Order in the court! @ThandoMfundisi come take your place as a #MissSA2018 top 5 finalist! pic.twitter.com/yMZjUlC8Cq
— Miss South Africa (@Official_MissSA) May 27, 2018
THANDOKAZI MFUNDISI
It's fitting that finalist Thandokazi Mfundisi's pastel pink off-the-shoulder gown had a bit of a princess vibe as it's a continuation of designer Orapeleng Modutle's latest collection, called Princesses Beyond The Grave.
On the Miss SA website, Modutle explains that this collection was inspired by the world's late, great fashion icons.