Thando Thabethe, the ever-glowing star of South Africa’s entertainment galaxy, set the Hollywoodbets Durban July 2025 ablaze with a fashion moment that will echo through the style pages for months to come. A vision of botanical brilliance, Thabethe stepped onto the grey carpet as a living embodiment of this year’s theme: Marvels of Mzansi.
Draped in a bespoke creation by Willet Designs Couture, the actress, entrepreneur, and media dynamo delivered not just a look—but a narrative. Her couture gown paid tribute to South Africa’s indigenous floral heritage, a lush fusion of artistic detail and cultural pride. With every step, she transformed the historic Greyville Racecourse into a runway blooming with symbolism and soul.
The ensemble was a sensory masterpiece: petals sculpted in rich jewel tones, fabrics layered to mimic the textures of fynbos and proteas, and a silhouette that moved like the wind over the Drakensberg. It wasn’t just fashion—it was geography turned glamour.
“Inspired by a land where valleys cradle winding rivers, mountains rise in quiet majesty, and the sky bursts into purple and orange at sunset,” Thabethe described the piece, adding a poetic resonance to an already spellbinding appearance.
From her delicately beaded train to the ethereal floral crown that crowned her look, Thabethe’s outfit was a visual love letter to South Africa—a celebration of its land, its people, and its power. It captured the duality of strength and softness that defines Mzansi’s landscape and its women.
With this unforgettable appearance, Thabethe didn’t just dress for the theme—she defined it. The 2025 Durban July may have featured many marvels, but none bloomed quite like Thando.
Credits
Glam: @thepenthousebeautystudio
Photography: @aust_malema
Dress: @willetdesignscouture
Communications & PR :@rebellemgmtsa