South Africa’s Newest Model Search looking for a Diamond in the Ruff

This October, a formidable group of the beauty, magazine and modeling industry’s most respected players will combine forces to groom 13 young women from inexperienced candidates into accomplished models. Mzansi Magic’s new reality TV show – Diamond in the Ruff, in association with De Beers will see a range of industry experts’ train the contestants, who’ll be selected from across the country, over a 13 episode series.

“This show is about taking on young women who wouldn’t ordinarily be considered for the modeling industry, and turning them into successful working models” explains Diamond in the Ruff producer, Phindile Mkhabela “Our model scouts will be specifically looking for young women who aren’t your obvious model candidates – but who, with focus, determination, training and support, can become one of the industry’s finest. We’re especially encouraged by De Beers’ commitment to empowering young South African talent – it’s going to be an incredible show.

The project will embark on a nationwide search commencing in Bloemfontien on the 30th September. A key focus of the show is that amongst the candidates will be plus size models. Women between the ages of 18-25 who are legally resident in South Africa, or South African citizens – are eligible to enter.

The show will select contestants from 8 South African cities and towns- Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Cape Town, Musina, Durban, Polokwane and Kroonstad. With a deliberate focus on recruiting candidates from both the country’s major centres and smaller towns, by scouring the country, Diamond in the Ruff is looking to reach as broad and diverse a group of potentials as possible.

Castings will take place as follows:

Bloemfonten – Friday, 30 September – Mangaung Metro Municipality – Braam Fischer Building, Rose Hall – Nelson Mandela Drive and cnr Maarkgraat Str

Kroonstad – Saturday, 1 October – Flavius Mareka FET College, Kroonstad Campus – Beukes St.

Durban – Wednesday, 5th October – City Lodge Durban – Cnr Silvester Ntuli (Brickhill Road)and K.E. Masinga (Old Fort Road), Durban

Kimberley – Saturday, 8 October – The Big Hole Mine Museum Boardroom, Tucker Street

Cape Town, Wednesday 12th October – 5 Welgemeend St, Gardens

Musina – Saturday, 15 October, Musina City Hall, Patharrison Street

Polokwane – Sunday, 16th October – Zanami Lodge- 44 Plein St

Johannesburg – Tuesday 18th October – The Shine Studios, 115 Smit street, cnr Henri, Braamfontein

Once selected, the 13 candidates will be transported to a model flat in Johannesburg, where they’ll be guided in their training by ‘fairy godmothers’ – a group of established models, including Lerato Moloi, a Face of Africa Finalist and Elizabeth Arden brand ambassador. They will also participate in a weekly adjudication process by a judging panel made up of Megan Kruger of the Shine Group, GQ South Africa associate editor and writer Siphiwe Mpye, and stylist, fashion writer and presenter Noni Gasa. The training is promised to be the stuff that great reality TV is made of.

Consolidated Mines Chairman, Barend Petersen says; “We’re really looking forward to hosting the contestants at our nine award-winning conservation and heritage sites on The Diamond Route which are all open to the public to explore and enjoy whilst communing with nature. ”

“We wanted to create an empowering TV programme that made a real and meaningful difference in our contestants’ lives,” explains Phindile Mkhabela “we also knew we needed to make riveting TV – which is what informed our content. This is going to be reality TV that’s pacy, entertaining and engaging – with an amazing South African flavour! The combination of the exercises and challenges will afford the contestants the industry’s finest as shepherds and mentors guiding them towards the ultimate goal of being crowned SA’s Diamond in the Ruff. It’s going to be an incredible ride!”

Diamond in the Ruff is a co-production between Dreamcatcher and Brainstorm Entertainment – the show will air weekly on Mzansi Magic channel 107, and promises to deliver amazing reality programming on a weekly basis.