Africa looks world’s catwalks in the face

Ghana’s Kate Tachie Menson was on Saturday night crowned the new Mnet Face of Africa in a glamorous showcase of African talent and style held at the Superbowl in Sun City, South Africa.

It was a fairy tale finish for the 23-year-old student, whose first attempt at the prestigious contest in 2006 ended at the audition level.

The dramatic 90-minute show, featuring electric performances from East Africa Idols winner Eric Moyo, along with Nigerian superstars Naeto C and Ikechukwu plus Afro-funk performers House of Holy Afro, was screened live.

Also striding down the catwalk were fellow finalists Alli (Nigeria), Hamamat (Ghana), Hiwot (Ethiopia), Maria (Namibia), Noxi (Zambia), Joana (Angola), Lucy (Uganda), Sasa (South Africa) and Sola (Nigeria).

The show celebrating a decade since inception, was beamed live across 47 countries in Africa on Dstv’s Mnet channel.

It was a culmination of a three-month journey to discover the next model from the continent and give her a chance to walk the prestigious runways of Milan and New York, and follow on the footsteps of Nigerian Oluchi Ongweagba-Orlandi who was the first winner of the show in 1998. Kaone Kario won in 2005.

Oluchi, then a shy 19-year-old girl hawking bread in the streets of Lagos has transformed into a supermodel who conquered the major international runways working with designers like Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Dior and Donna Karan.

Ten years after winning, Oluchi’s company, O Model Africa, awarded the winner with a modelling contract valued at $50,000 (Sh3.9 million) and a pledge to help her be successful in her career. She also goes home with $50,000 cash.

“I’m so happy right now because after having the door closed on me the first time, I did not give up and worked hard to be what the judges wanted,” said Kate immediately on being declared winner.

Having been denied the first time, Kate went home and hit the gym with a vengeance in preparation for the 2006 Face of Africa. Unfortunately the show was cancelled that year.

“I just started working with other modelling agencies while at the same time making sure I went through my routine preparation because I knew that when Face of Africa resumed, I would be in. It was believing in myself that got me going,” she added.

But she would not have tried again if she failed this year, she said, adding that she would have moved on with the experience she received.

While paying tribute to her fellow contestants, Kate said her biggest competition was from Nigeria’s Alli. Not surprisingly, her role model is Oluchi, her new boss.

Says Oluchi: “On the judging panel, it was clear to us all that Kate was perfectly suited to be the next Face of Africa. She’s the complete package, a model designers dream that magazine editors embrace and that catwalks are made for. Kate won the title purely on merit and the fact that she had this fairytale story, this incredible journey to the top, makes it just that little bit sweeter.”

What does she plan to do with the money?

“I will invest, maybe buy an apartment in South Africa where I will be working,” she said and paid tribute to her parents for their support and guidance; they never objected to her dream to succeed in modelling.

Featuring the fashions of Tanzania’s Mustafa Hassanali, South Africa’s Thula Sindi and Nigeria’s Lisa Folawiyo — and two magazine collections from South Africa’s Cosmopolitan magazine and True Love East Africa, the finale was played out against a backdrop of a gleaming black catwalk.

M-Net’s channel director for Africa Biola Adekanbi said they were proud of the project “for transformative power to change lives and its enduring continental appeal.”

Kate starts working as a model immediately.