Cheers to the young and inspiring minds
SKINNERBEK donned her cocktail frock this week for the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber's Top 40 Under 40 shindig. A new crop of inspiring (don't make me say "young") leaders under age 40 from business and other spheres popped the champers on Wednesday night to celebrate their inclusion on this year's list.
Very impressed with cupcakes that were meant to look just like them, apart from melting in the February heat, the top businessmen and women giggled and licked their fingers like youngsters during the glam event at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
While the "cool kids" all flocked together at one table around Silver Spoon Apparel co-owner Stephanie Beyers van den Bergh, one of this year's achievers, others chose to celebrate more reservedly while seated at tables with their partners.
Looking chic in a black and white shift dress political analyst Dr Joleen Steyn-Kotze, who will soon be leaving to work overseas, was congratulated by her former employer Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University vice-chancellor Prof Derrick Swartz, who was dressed in a shiny silver suit and accompanying baby blue shirt.
Skinnerbek had to leave for another party, but was told the achievers danced till late to the smooth sounds of the TwoTone band.
Among those strutting her stuff in a gorgeous peach dress was Buli G Ngomane, fresh off a plane from Johannesburg.
Properly coiffed and sporting my best heels I too packed an overnight bag and headed for Jozi this week to take up an invite from my good friend, Michele Lehy.
Once off the plane I beat the traffic by grabbing the super-fast Gautrain to her premises.
All I can say is dreams do come true.
My friend is determined to revolutionise the food industry in SA, and is well on her way to doing this: factories in a year, licensed to export meat products to the EU, and one of only two producers in the country able to make shelf-stable meals.
PE people are taking over the world so you go, girl! More on this when she goes retail – I will be the hottie in the heels at the launch.
Of course, being in Jozi for the night, I had to seek a little entertainment and so, sporting false eyelashes and stilettos, I took a step to the right, then a step to the left, and headed for The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Back to the Bay. I was thoroughly impressed with the stylists and models out in force at Luchumo Events' African hair show at the Athenaeum last weekend.
The creativity and beauty of the 'dos were a marvel and it was fun to catch up with familiar faces in the crowd.
One of the models, Di-Anne Qoto, looked simply splendid – just as she did at Top 40. It seems married life is agreeing with her and has not cramped her style one bit.
On to this weekend, I hope to see you all sprawled on the lawns at the two Concerts in the Park in Victoria Park tomorrow and Sunday, in the company of the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.
