Idols SA judge and celebrated fashion icon Somizi Mhlongo recently shared his unique perspective on the fashion industry at a Johannesburg event, offering insights into the creativity and craftsmanship behind high-end design.
The event, held at the Villioti Fashion Institute on Monday, 25 November, was part of Lenovo South Africa's "Be the Creator" initiative, aimed at empowering emerging designers. Mhlongo, alongside Lenovo, provided mentorship and guidance to fashion students, fostering a collaborative environment where technology and artistry converged.
The 51-year-old media personality, businessman, and founder of the children's brand Sompire Kids, shared his thoughts on the often-misunderstood world of high fashion: "It's not just about the jacket looking nice. I look deep into it – the texture, creativity. Before, I didn’t understand why some designers are expensive, but now I can see the amount of work put into a garment and why it should be."
His words offered a valuable glimpse into the dedication and skill involved in creating high-quality garments. He also encouraged aspiring designers to be bold and true to themselves, emphasizing the importance of individual expression in the creative process.
Lenovo's Southern Africa Consumer Category Manager, Wayne Holt, highlighted the initiative's significance in nurturing the next generation of designers: "By blending fashion and technology, we are fostering creativity and driving innovation in sustainable practices. This platform celebrates the incredible potential when cutting-edge technology meets artistic vision." The event concluded with the announcement of Tatiana Argirys as the competition winner. Overcome with emotion, Argirys expressed her surprise and pride at her achievement.
Nkayi alleges that Mhlongo's return to Idols SA, following allegations of abuse against him, was contingent upon her removal from the judging panel. "I knew it was coming because Somizi was coming back, I knew he wouldn't want to work with me after the stance I took," she stated. This "stance," Nkayi explains, was her unwavering refusal to defend sexual offenders, referencing Mhlongo's 2008 conviction and the allegations of abuse against him in 2021.
The deterioration of their friendship, according to Nkayi, began during and after her divorce from Thomas Msengana. She claims Mhlongo, a mutual friend, sided with her ex-husband, leading to a significant strain on their relationship.
Nkayi's family advised her to accept the situation, but the tension escalated further in 2021 following allegations of sexual abuse against Mhlongo. Her public expression of relief at R. Kelly's conviction led to questions about her lack of support for Mhlongo, to which she responded firmly: "People asked me why I didn’t support Somizi. He is not my friend, and I don’t support sex offenders," reiterating his 2008 conviction.
Nkayi alleges that she learned of her contract termination through the media, believing it was a direct consequence of Mhlongo's return to Idols SA and his influence on the show's producers.
"I saw that Somizi was coming back for the final season, and I knew he would never want to work with me after the stance I took," she said.
She further alleges that Mhlongo demanded her removal as a condition for his return, a gamble the show ultimately took, resulting in a loss of viewers in the final season, according to Nkayi. "The show took a gamble on losing viewers by not renewing my contract to meet Somizi’s demands," she commented.
