Local talent gets international recognition
Rustenburg – Mammone Aphiri won the title of Ms. Plus Intercontinental 3rd Runner-up 2022 which was held in Houston, Texas from Friday 11 March to Saturday 12 March.
The evening dress, which landed Aphiri the title of ‘Ms Plus Intercontinental evening gown winner’ was created by Relebohile Malinga from Marikana.
Aphiri was the only finalist from Africa when she competed against several other international finalists.
She has been in the pageant industry for more than 40 years and her journey for Miss Plus World started in 2020 with the national competition that was held in Bloemfontein, after which she was on her way to the states. She made it through the preliminary stage competition and into the finals.
Her purple dress which is covered in sequence was a showstopper at the event and had the judges in awe.
It is the first time that anyone from Africa has won this coveted title Aphiri had this to say about fashion designer Relebohile Malinga:
“After a few setbacks with designers, a friend referred me to Malinga. When I called her, she was visiting in the Eastern Cape but convinced me to wait for her to get back.”
Malinga was impressed when she completed the dress in two days. Aphiri added: “I am not easy to satisfy, and I know exactly what I want. Malinga delivered above and beyond my expectations. She is blessed with a God-given talent. This trophy is not just for me, it’s for her too. God brought us together.”
Malinga stays in a two-bedroom house with her husband. She turned one of the bedrooms into her studio.
“My husband is my biggest supporter. I’m really blessed. When he sees that I’m busy working he immediately jumps in to assist with the duties around the house,” Malinga said.
Although she has no formal training, she has taken the limelight many times with her designs. She also made the dress of the winner of Miss Teen Plus 2021, Pheladi Matlala.
She taught herself to sew. After she saw a gap in the plus-size clothing industry, she started to specialise in it. She also designed and made Aphiri’s Couture Denim. Like the rest of her designs and work, it turned out amazing.
You can contact Malinga on 071 172 2233 if you are in the market for a designer plus size outfit
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