Ingrid Pearce (left), Katlego Pitso (rht)

Get the inside track at Audi Joburg Fashion Week from Ingrid Pearce, Marie Claire fashion assistant Johannebsurg, and our fashion intern Katlego Pitso.

Stoned Cherrie Photography credit Simon Deiner/SDR

What Audi Joburg Fashion Week

When Wednesday, January 20-24, 2010

Where Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg

For more info Visit www.africanfashioninternational.com

Russian Ksenia Suchinova just beat Parvathay Omanakuttan of India and Gabrielle Walcott of Trinidad for the title  of Miss World 2008-2009.

The pageant was held in Johannesburg, South Africa and the finals were broadcast in a two-hour show from the Sandton Convention Centre.

The remaining two of the five finalists were Brigith Dos Santos of Angola and Tansey Coetzee of South Africa.

Participants from 109 countries wordlwide competed in the competition.

Aside from the main pageant there were also several sub-titles that the contestants were vying for:

Continental Queens of Beauty:

·     Africa: Brigith dos Santos (Angola)

·     Americas: Hannelly Quintero (Venezuela)

·     Asia & Oceania: Parvathy Omanakuttan (India)

·     Caribbean: Gabrielle Walcott (Trinidad & Tobago)

·     Europe: Ksenia Sukhinova (Russia)

Miss World Beach Body:

• Winner: Mexico
• 1st runner-up: South Africa
• 2nd runner-up: Russia

Miss World Top Model:

• Winner: Russia
• 1st runner-up: Angola
• 2nd runner-up: India

Miss World Sports:

• Winner: Iceland
• 1st runner-up: Nigeria
• 2nd runner-up: Portugal

The pageant seems to be encompassing many more categories than it has in the past, but even when it was little more than a glorified swimsuit competition, these pageants always had me mystified.

I would look at them on television and see all these tall, slim beautiful women and after the show was over I would go put on some heels and stomp up and down the corridor.

So I am quite happy to see that the pageant now encourages the girls to represent charities and have platforms because I think they really could inspire a lot of young girls.

Of course there’s the whole issue of body image and these pageants that can send the wrong message to young girls that if they don’t look like these women that there is something wrong with them.

There has been a recent rend however for European models, that they cannot be smaller than a size two. So I think a healthy balance can be struck upon.

Positive role models for girls, who have healthy physical appearances and take pride in the way they look. I’m quite happy to see the way the pageant has developed, especially the Miss Sport award.

Last week Friday I had the pleasure of attending Rooms on View at the Sandton Convention Centre. I had to attend for work purposes, but thoroughly enjoyed it!

I attended a few workshops, including a stunning presentation by New York Interior Designer, Jamie Drake. Hailed as the ‘King of Colour’ he took us into another world and showed us images from his latest book, New American Glamour.

Attandance to this workshop read like the Who’s Who in South African Interior Design and there was more style and glamour in the audience than I am used to.

I was not allowed to take any photos of him, but sneaked one in from behind, while he was signing books.

I love the emerald green suit!

Although Rooms on View was definitely decor eye candy, it was pity that there were no young-up-and-coming interior designers to be seen…

Look out for more…