THE GLAMOUR AT THE MNET FINALS

On Saturday February 6, in a stylish haute couture showcase 22-year-old Lukando Nalungwe from Zambia joined an exclusive group of winners when she was named the eighth and newest M-Net Face of Africa. The striking model scooped USD 50 000 from M-Net along with a modeling contract from O Model Africa and skincare products for 12 months from Iman Cosmetics.

Re-invention and innovation are hot buzzwords for the global fashion community and in a two-hour show, screened live from Lagos to 47 countries across Africa, M-Net presented a bold new vision for the Face of Africa Final opting for an edgier version of a traditional runway show and presenting the models on a black, floor-based runway in a contemporary warehouse.
With the Final themed to resemble the loading warehouse of an art museum, where precious gallery pieces are prepared for display, the staging included massive cargo boxes stamped with African destinations with extra-ordinary sized gold frames that showcased the fashion and the finalists; and packaging tape demarcating the runway from the show’s seated guests, it was a uniquely fresh approach to showcasing Afro-chic expression.
Hosted by Studio 53’s Fareed Khimani (Kenya) and former Face of Africa Kaone Kario (Botswana) with a guest appearance by last season’s Face of Africa Kate Menson (Ghana), the finale included entertainment from Nigerian superstar D’banj belting out his hits Suddenly and Fall in Love.
Meanwhile soulful South African songstress Lira, shimmering in green silk, showed why she’s one of Africa’s rising stars with two brilliant performances of her hits Feel Good and Believer!
But the night belonged to the TOP 10 – and from the minute that Nigeria’s Marvis kicked off the show, followed in rapid success by Tholakele (Zimbabwe), Lilian (Tanzania), Esperanca (Angola), Thembi (South Africa), Blessing (Nigeria), Rosanna (Zimbabwe), Diana (Kenya), Ernania (Mozambique) and Lukando (Zambia), it was very clear just who the stars of the show really were.
Showing how much they’ve learnt during the Face of Africa search, which DStv audiences have been following for 15 weeks, the Face of Africa TOP 10 hit the catwalk with confidence, graceful as they strode down the catwalk resplendent in garments designed by the best of African designers.
Commenting on the event, M-Net MD Biola Alabi congratulated Lukando on her win saying,
“It’s an incredible thing to watch someone’s life literally change in front of your eyes and when it happens live in front of a continent, it is remarkable and a very special moment. We are very proud of Lukando and all of the TOP 10 for their determination and focus and want to thank them for sharing this journey so openly.”