Style is not simply what you wear. It is the impression you leave, the conventions you challenge and the legacy you create. As the SA Style Awards unveil their 2026 honourees, South Africa’s most compelling cultural voices remind us that true influence has never been about following fashion. It is about defining it.
There are those who dress for attention, and then there are those whose very presence commands it. The SA Style Awards have long understood the difference. In a world increasingly obsessed with fleeting trends, algorithmic approval and disposable celebrity, these prestigious awards celebrate something considerably more enduring: individuality, creative courage, cultural influence and the unmistakable confidence of those who refuse to disappear into the crowd.
The 2026 announcement brings together an extraordinary constellation of artists, designers, entrepreneurs, journalists, performers and changemakers. Their disciplines may differ, but they share an essential quality: each has transformed personal expression into something larger than themselves.
This is not merely a celebration of beautiful people wearing beautiful clothes. It is a portrait of contemporary South Africa, told through those bold enough to shape its identity.
THE 2026 HONOUREES
ICON | THANDISWA MAZWAI
Some artists make music. Others become part of a nation’s cultural memory.
Thandiswa Mazwai belongs firmly in the latter category. From her pioneering presence in South African music to her commanding solo artistry, Mazwai has consistently fused African musical heritage with contemporary expression.
Her distinctive aesthetic, unapologetically African, theatrical and deeply personal, has become inseparable from her artistic identity. Through her music, she interrogates history, celebrates identity and challenges convention.
An icon in every sense, Mazwai proves that the most powerful style statement is cultural authenticity.
MOST STYLISH BUSINESS PERSONALITY | RECHELLE KLOECK
Entrepreneurship has found an exceptionally glamorous ambassador in Rechelle Kloeck, founder and CEO of Motherkind and PowerHER FitFest.
A mother of three, competitive showjumper and passionate wellness advocate, Kloeck has built a proudly South African beauty and wellness business centred on women’s confidence and empowerment.
Her latest venture, PowerHER FitFest, is set to bring thousands of women together in Johannesburg and Cape Town this November, featuring internationally recognised fitness personality Kayla Itsines. For Kloeck, success is not simply measured in commercial growth but in the communities women build together.
THE NEXT BIG THING | AYANDA G. THABETHE
Television personality, presenter, content creator and beauty queen Ayanda G. Thabethe is building a career that refuses to be confined to one industry.
From Expresso and Afternoon Express to becoming Miss South Africa’s first runner-up in 2022, Miss Supranational South Africa 2023 and Miss Cosmo South Africa 2026, her trajectory is one of deliberate reinvention.
Preparing to represent South Africa internationally in Vietnam, she is also developing Crown Confidence, a platform dedicated to public speaking, personal development and empowering women to find their voices. Her future looks considerably bigger than any single crown.
MOST STYLISH MODEL | BRIAN WHITBY
Discovered on the streets of Durban’s CBD, Brian Whitby’s journey reads like a fashion editor’s dream.
Initially considered too unconventional for the commercial modelling world, Whitby embraced the very aesthetic that would eventually distinguish him internationally.
After choosing an opportunity in Italy over sitting his examinations, he made his runway debut for Dolce & Gabbana. Campaigns and collaborations followed, including Burberry, Stone Island, Versace, Dsquared2, Ferragamo and Balenciaga.
From Durban to the fashion capitals of Milan, Paris, London and New York, Whitby represents a generation of African models rewriting the international definition of beauty.
MOST STYLISH MEDIA PERSONALITY IN PRINT | NONTANDO MPOSO
As Editor-in-Chief of GLAMOUR South Africa, Nontando Mposo understands that the modern fashion publication must do considerably more than document what is fashionable.
With over 15 years in journalism and publishing, she has built a career championing diverse voices, cultural relevance and storytelling that reflects contemporary society.
An accomplished moderator, speaker and editorial leader, Mposo brings intelligence, personality and a refreshing cultural perspective to an industry undergoing profound transformation.
MOST STYLISH MEDIA PERSONALITY IN PRINT | EMMANUEL TJIYA
Emmanuel Tjiya, Editor-in-Chief of Sowetan S Mag, is one of South Africa’s distinctive voices in entertainment and cultural journalism.
His career has taken him from New York Fashion Week to the MTV Europe Music Awards, interviewing international personalities including Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o, Kelly Rowland and Tyler Perry.
The bestselling author of Dinner at Somizi’s: I Am Not A Chef, Tjiya also spearheaded the Sowetan40 x Netflix collaboration and creatively directed the S1981 fashion capsule featuring designers including David Tlale and Craig Jacobs.
Named Fashion Journalist of the Year at the 2022 Fashion Industry Awards South Africa, he continues to blur the boundaries between journalism, fashion and popular culture.
MOST STYLISH MEDIA PERSONALITY IN BROADCAST | ABIGAIL VISAGIE
Poise becomes particularly powerful when accompanied by substance.
With nine years of live broadcasting experience, eNCA News Night anchor Abigail Visagie has established herself as an articulate, credible presence in South African journalism.
A skilled interviewer, master of ceremonies and panel facilitator, Visagie demonstrates that authority and elegance are entirely compatible. Her recognition celebrates a woman whose presence is defined as much by what she says as how she presents herself.
MOST STYLISH ARTIST IN MUSIC | THABSIE
Cape Town-born singer Thabsie has made fashion an extension of her musical identity.
A multiple award-winning performer whose creative world encompasses music, fitness and digital storytelling, she continues to evolve following the release of her 2026 EP, While You Wait.
For Thabsie, clothing is never merely decorative. It communicates emotion, identity and artistic evolution, making her a natural choice for this year’s musical style distinction.
MOST STYLISH DESIGNER IN FASHION | VUSUMUZI ‘BOB THE STYLIST’ NDIMA
Soweto has always possessed its own fashion vocabulary. Vusumuzi Ndima has transformed it into an internationally relevant design language.
Founder and creative director of Boys of Soweto, Ndima draws inspiration from township culture and the elegance of es’bhujwa style.
Having styled personalities including Bonang Matheba and Black Coffee, he has taken his brand from an online fashion blog to Moscow Fashion Week in 2024, with Boys of Soweto receiving Best South African Fashion Brand recognition in 2025.
Through his Boys Today, Men Tomorrow initiative, he also invests in the next generation of young creatives.
MOST STYLISH PERFORMING ARTIST IN FILM/TV | THABANG MOLABA
Actor and model Thabang Molaba has become one of South Africa’s recognisable emerging screen talents.
After appearing in The Queen, he attracted wider attention through his portrayal of KB Molaba in Netflix’s Blood & Water.
His international film career expanded with Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the third instalment in the Hollywood heist franchise. With his screen presence and contemporary approach to menswear, Molaba embodies a new generation of African leading men.
MOST INNOVATIVE STYLE | NEO SERATI MOFAMMERE, NAO SERATI
Fashion without boundaries is the territory of Johannesburg-born designer Neo Serati Mofammere.
Since establishing NAO SERATI in 2014, he has challenged conventional ideas surrounding gender, identity and contemporary African fashion.
His creative collaborations include Adidas, Reebok and Volvo, while his work continues across fashion design and commercial styling. With a 2027 collection in development, his vision remains defiantly experimental.
MOST INNOVATIVE STYLE | LI-CHI PAN
Architect, photographer and art director Li-Chi Pan approaches luxury through the precision of architecture and the emotion of visual storytelling.
A University of Sydney Master of Architecture graduate, she has worked with Hermès, photographed personalities including Hailey Bieber and seen her imagery featured in Vogue US.
Her portfolio extends across luxury hospitality brands including Capella, Park Hyatt, One&Only and Belmond. Following five years at MAXMEDIALAB, she is preparing to establish her own multidisciplinary design and photography studio in 2027.
SPECIAL MENTION | JOHN MEYER
Born in Bloemfontein in 1942, celebrated realist painter John Meyer has devoted his career to capturing the complexities of humanity through art.
His detailed portraits, landscapes and narrative works, including explorations of Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II, have earned recognition locally and internationally.
His special mention acknowledges the enduring elegance of artistic mastery.
ARTS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP | MANDLA SIBEKO AND NALEDI SIBEKO
Mandla and Naledi Sibeko are also named among this year’s honourees.
Entrepreneur and arts champion Mandla Sibeko founded Seed Capital Ventures and has played an influential role in South Africa’s contemporary art landscape, notably through his leadership of the FNB JoburgArt Fair.
His contribution reflects the increasingly important relationship between business, cultural investment and the creative economy.
CHANGEMAKER | CATHERINE CONSTANTINIDES
Perhaps the most compelling definition of style is the courage to stand for something.
Human rights defender, humanitarian and environmental activist Catherine Constantinides has dedicated more than two decades to advancing climate justice, social responsibility and humanitarian causes.
Appointed to South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission in January 2026, she is also an Archbishop Tutu African Oxford Fellow and Mandela Washington Fellow.
Through her Merchants of Light Foundation, advocacy for Saharawi refugees and environmental initiatives, including helping plant more than 60,000 trees, Constantinides has built a legacy far beyond appearances.
A recipient of the 2026 Medal of Honour from the President of Cyprus, she embodies the extraordinary influence of purpose-driven leadership.
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE LEGACY
Behind the SA Style Awards stands founder Jillian Grőger, whose vision, established in the late 1990s, was to recognise South Africans whose achievements transcended conventional definitions of glamour.
From the beginning, Grőger believed style should represent excellence, individuality and the ability to influence society. Over nearly three decades, the awards have evolved into a prestigious fixture on South Africa’s cultural calendar, celebrating achievement across fashion, entertainment, media, business and philanthropy.
THE TASTEMAKERS BEHIND THE TITLES
The judging process has historically drawn on respected voices from fashion, journalism, business and the arts.
Over the years, panels have included Gert-Johan Coetzee, Basetsana Kumalo, Terry Pheto, Lerato Kganyago, Nathan Reddy and Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse.
More recent judging circles have featured Dr John Kani, Craig Jacobs, Irene Charnley, Emmanuel Tjiya, Aspasia Karras, Siphiwe Mpye, Sharon Armstrong and Andrea Nagel, bringing together experience, cultural insight and creative authority.
THE BRANDS BEHIND THE BRILLIANCE
The awards have cultivated relationships with luxury and lifestyle partners who recognise the value of celebrating South African excellence.
Over successive editions, supporters have included Plascon, Versus Paint, Sandton City, Nelson Mandela Square, Mall of Africa, QMS, Carlton Hair, Skin Renewal, House of BNG and Bang & Olufsen.
The 2026 judging gathering also featured contributions from Versus Paint, QMS and Ooh La La Artisan Confectionary. These relationships demonstrate the awards’ enduring connection between creativity, luxury and commercial innovation.
BEYOND THE RED CARPET
The most remarkable thing about this year’s honourees is not their collective glamour. It is their collective ambition.
They are building businesses, transforming cultural narratives, redefining African aesthetics, championing social change and carrying South African creativity onto the international stage.
In an age where visibility is often mistaken for significance, the SA Style Awards offer a necessary reminder: influence must be earned, individuality must be cultivated, and genuine style is never simply borrowed.
Because fashion may capture a moment, but style has the power to define an era.
Now this is #Joburgstyle.
