Chris Roper: Cultural sushi
Cape Town is about to experience an influx of beautiful uitlanders. Two major modelling agencies are opening branches in our fair city. The world’s largest model management corporation, Elite, has launched its SA Model Look competition, and the lucky lass will be chosen on Saturday, August 23 in the Royal Ballroom at the Table Bay Hotel.
September 13 sees the Storm Supermodel Fashion Party. It’s a shindig at the Tygerberg Indoor Sport and Entertainment Centre, and is being held to celebrate the launch of the London-based model agency Storm. Storm is owned by Virgin’s Richard Branson, who seems determined to eventually acquire a chunk of the South African economy, and Sarah Doukas. Kate Moss (left), the world’s highest paid model, will head a team of 14 international catwalk models. Thirty of South Africa’s top models will help out in supporting roles.
If you prefer your sex symbols a bit meatier, you’ll be keen to gatecrash the Planet Hollywood launch in November. The launch will be graced by the presence of Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenneger. It will be flaunting its logo on the Waterfront, and should reassure the tourists alienated by the harsh Africanness of primitive Cape Town.
Why are all these glamorous concerns opening up branches in Cape Town? Unkind people might see it as exploitation of a depressed market, but others see it as a vote of confidence in the country’s economy. Either way, in the next few weeks we’ll be seeing a lot more beautif ul people around.