Entertainment Reporter.
@GalloImages.
An African inspired royal soiree that kept heads turning saw a mix of renowned actors, social media influencers, media personalities and fashion tastemakers bring their A-game to the Bridgerton Affair ball.
Netflix celebrated the second season of Bridgerton with an exclusive gathering of Johannesburg’s ‘elite ton’ – ‘beautiful people’ who make up the city’s glitterati. Billed ‘A Bridgerton Affair’, the event was held at the Inanda Club, Johannesburg.
The theme: “Bridgerton Royalty | Regency with an African flair.”
The ‘Love Doesn’t Play by the Rules’ theme saw the guests give their interpretation of the Regency era with a distinctly African flair.
Former ‘Queen of the Universe’ Zozibini Tunzi stepped effortlessly into the role of her Imperial Majesty, Queen Charlotte, with Donovan Goliath portraying her Royal Guard, Brimsley and Coconut Kelz, representing scandal sheet author, the infamous Lady Whistledown.
Miss South Africa’s reigning Queen Lalela Mswane, Khanyi Mbau, Thando Thabethe, Anele Mdoda, Connie Ferguson, and rapper Nadia Nakai were among the guests who graced the red carpet.
As a reigning pageant queen, Mswane’s look left much to be desired and gave zero royalty and zero African flair.
The dress just had too much going on. It’s short, but it’s long, it’s layered, it’s tulle, it’s beaded, it’s feathered, she’s wearing a corsage… and even with all that, not a hint of the Bridgerton Affair theme in sight.
Author and television host Toke Makinwa is another star who understood the assignment in a Gert Johan Coetzee design.
It was fitted, it was beautiful, it was regal and still didn’t feel like the look was trying too hard. Sheer perfection.