Dresses help to make dreams come true

THE Algoa Sun/ Reach for a Dream Wear your Dream Dress competition saw 25 finalists light up the stage at the gala evening on Saturday night.
The competition invited girls who attended a matric dance this year to enter their dresses in the Reach for a Dream foundation’s biggest fundraising event for the year.
About R17000 was raised and will go towards making dreams come true for many children who suffer from life-threatening illnesses.
According to Reach for a Dream event organiser Michelle van Huysteen the evening was a huge success despite some minor challenges including the rain.
“The girls looked beautiful and we are very grateful to the parents, family and supporters who bought tickets to help us make the dreams of so many sick children a reality.
“We have had such wonderful feedback from those who attended.”
The evening was also brightened up by the master of ceremonies, Niqui Cloete-Barrass who had the crowd tapping their toes while she sang.
With each girl a potential winner, the judges, The Herald Spec-Savers Miss Port Elizabeth 2011, Nandipha Mnuna, renowned make-up artist MC Gouws, and Elle Young Designer of the Year and BTech fashion student Kelly Esterhuizen had a tough time choosing the winner from the stunning dresses that were entered.
The top spot in the Designer category went to Ashleigh Botha from Victoria Park High School.
Ashleigh almost didn’t make her farewell as she suffers from a rare disease called Fibromuscular Dysplasia which causes the narrowing of the arteries.
She is currently writing her matric final exams and will leave for a specialist clinic in Cleveland, Ohio to have bypass surgery.
Her blue dress by designer Johan Wolmarans from Designs by Johan was made from imported fabric and finished off with delicate flower details.
“I was totally surprised to win, there were such beautiful dresses entered,” beamed Ashleigh.
The winner of the homemade category was Tara-Lee Bayley whose dress was sewn by her mom Mariana.
Mariana is no stranger to making dresses for her three daughters. She made three dresses each for Tara-Lee and her sisters for various farewell parties when they were all in high school.
In 2008 two of the dresses she made were finalists in the homemade category.
Tara-Lee is a former Victoria Park High student but the dress which was entered this year was for her boyfriend’s farewell. He attends Brylin.
“I am very excited about winning,” said Tara-Lee on the night.
Mariana said Tara-Lee was not sure about entering her dress but did so along with her younger sister, Trysmin, who did not make the judges’ cut.
“She is over the moon about the win,” said Mariana who has sewn the dresses with a machine she received in 1982.
Tara-Lee’s dress had a black bodice and skirt with colourful beads hand-sewn onto the bodice.
The girls received many prizes including jewellery from Jenni Collections, a modelling contract from Pizzazz finishing school and modelling academy, a Trunk in Hand experience from the Crags Elephant sanctuary, laser hair removal treatment from Anel’s Beauty and Skincare and a photoshoot from Prodesign photographers.

Algoa Sun news editor, Bobbi Sands, said the evening was a wonderful success.
“It was nice to see such a good turnout of people supporting the finalists. All the girls looked stunning and are all winners in their own right. The work Reach for a Dream does is invaluable and it warms one’s heart to know the funds raised will go to putting smiles on sick children’s faces.”