The future, and life, seem gloomy for MATSHIDISO EPHERNIA LESO at the moment, but her ambition to be a fashion designer is as bright as a bonfire. At the moment she takes lessons as a model, but the Mabuya High learner’s prospects to be where she wants to be needs a stabilized environment and a re-assuring atmosphere. Thembi Masser talks to her.
At 22, Matshidiso is in grade 11 and her
favourite teachers are MrD Khoza and Ms Nkaba. The former is her geography teacher
and the latter offers consumer studies. “I also do history, maths literacy,
life orientation, English and Sepedi,” she adds.
Matshidiso, tall and willowy, is an ardent
fan of Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks. “The two have done so much to pave the
ramp way for us. Do not forget Alek Wek as well, the lady has style.”
Her other role models include Steven Tshekiso, a drama director at
the Rhoo Hlatswayo Arts Centre in Daveyton, Benoni, and Vincent Makena, a
ballroom dancer. She is a ballroom
dancer and is also an artistic drama student. This is apart from her Saturday
modelling classes at Collusion Entertainment (owned by Jabu Skhosana, who is
also a media officer at South African Youth Club Academy). “I started modelling
early at primary school but did not think so much about it until a few years
ago when I became aware that I have the body and the looks.” She believes her
petite body will give her ample opportunities to walk the ramp. But, to her
dismay, Collusion has not organised any meaningful ramp events where is able to
showcase her abilities.
Her desire to succeed in the modeling business
has also encouraged her to reject any talk of having baby yet. “Babies are a
distraction to life if their arrival is not planned properly and as for the
boys, well, they hurt so much, they are a pain. I have been hurt recently, and
at the moment I am in a passive relationship. No frills, not too much hand
work,” she laughs heartily at this. “Just a here- present with you, yet-so-far-
away kind of a liaison.”
She wants to be a top notch, award-winning
fashion designer.
Matshidiso has done quite some research in
the business and found out that there were not so many fashion designers in
Gauteng. She also realized that no one
can actually design for ample-bodied people. “I want to design for them. You
see, chubby people do two things that irritate me. Either they just throw
pieces of clothing on them to hide in them, or they do the opposite, dressing
in tight clothes that embarrass them than flatter them. So I want to design clothes that will flatter
them and at the same time boost their flagging self-esteem.”
She says she wants the new generation to
dress differently, “I have designs for them,” she quips. So much as I want
money so badly; I have designs for the township cultural life style.”
Her other ambition, ‘not a plan B’, is to
be a TV presenter. “I have been to Auckland Park to check things out,” she
points out. “There I was fortunate to touch the hand of Ngamla (Menzi Ngubane)
and talk to Sonia Mbele. However, my darling is always Pearl Thusi.”
But deep in the heart of the easy-going
Matshidiso there is an uneasy feeling of exasperation. “I am going to struggle
to get going because I am not sure where will I get the money to further my
ambitions,” she remarks. “Modeling is expensive. We are expected to wear our own
beautiful clothes, own make-up and with me not having a reliable financial back-up
this will be a problem. Same with media, might not be able to make it.”
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