Elsie from Ons Huis in Cape Town!

The official charity for all Mr SA 2010 semi finalists was Ons Huis, a charity for mentally challenged adults based in Pretoria. The head of this charity is a lovely lady by the name of Elsie Van Der Walt. I had met her briefly in Johanesburg for the finalist announcement. We had stayed in contact since and she informed me that she would be in Cape Town...

So we had to meet up while she was down here. We arranged a dinner along with co-Cape Town finalist Ruan Groenewald. It was great to see Elsie again. She is such a sweet lady but now I got to see her real character and she is a barrel of laughs and has quite the naughty side! Thus she made the night a lot of fun as she is so easy going.

She handed over to me a Ons Huis piggy bank, signed by some of the handicapped adults who live at the home. It was a really touching moment as we live in such a self-interested dog-eat-dog world where everybody only seems to care about money and keeping others oppressed, but here is this woman who has now devoted her life to helping others. And always with a smile on her face. She also showed me that night that not everything needs to be taken so seriously all the time, and that words often dont mean that much, but its peoples' actions that count and what we hold in our souls that makes the difference. And she has a beautiful soul. And so does Ruan, he is a really nice guy also with a beautiful soul.

So it was great to see Elsie and Ruan again. Elsie further instilled my belief that we all can make a difference and further renewed my confidence in myself that I can make a difference. Thanks Elsie for being an inspiration to us all, that we can all make a difference while having a laugh along the way!

Cosmo Swimwear Fashion Show

The beginning of summer signalled one of the season's most anticipated shows... the Cosmo Swimwear Fashion Show. It was different in that it was not a traditional show, but more an advertising medium for the sponsors to show their stuff. Sometimes I feel sponsors are not dealt a good hand but Cosmo definitely knows how to market so well done to them!

In every scene there was some sort of brand association. Even before the show had started there were promoters of every brand that was going to be in the show, handing out product or talking about their prospective brands. The Davidoff Cool Water scene we had Tracey MacGregor spraying herself with perfume, the Vawter scene the models were drinking it and dancing as if in a club, the Havianas scene the models came out in outfits made of havianas slip slops and the Bonaqua scene the models sprayed it all over each other...

In times of economic downturn, companies want bang for their buck, Cosmo has obviously caught onto this and thus they made their sponsors products the main focus. It did get a little annoying as it just seemed that product was getting shoved in our face, but the models were beautiful, the lighting good and great music and costumes so all in all it was a great show...

And summer has just begun!!!

Firefly Tonics: Refreshing, Tasty Health drinks for summer!!!

So summer has arrived!!! It is finally here and its time to whip out those bikinis and shorts and hit the beach. Just in time for summer I am happy to announce that I will be brand ambassador for Firefly Tonics! So I know what Im going to be drinking on the beach ;) I was approached because of my look, but primarily so because of my interest in health and finding alternatives to the crap on the market!
And Firefly is the ideal drink, tasty yet very healthy.

Firefly is the ultimate in health drinks and the company was started in England. It has since taken over the world and is now in South Africa. What makes Firefly drinks so amazing is their combination of taste and health. There is no sugar in any of the drinks and only natural ingredients are used. The big idea behind the drinks was, let's find natural ingredients to do the same job that other drinks use dodgy chemicals for. Thus Firefly has specialized herbalists who put the right herbs in each different Firefly variety...and you really can feel them working.

Each drink is a combination of purified water, organic fruit juices and specialized herbs. For instance 'Recharge' is designed to help you after a hard day at the office, or the next day after a heavy party! It contains pomegranate, plum, blood orange and rose hips juice and contains the herbs echinacea, rosemary, elderflower(immune boosters), siberian ginseng and kola nut(energy boosters) and chilli(increases blood circulation).

'Wake Up' is their version of the energy drink but is much healthier than a Red Bull! But instead of sugar and stimulants, Wake Up contains green tea, kola nut and yerba mate for that energy boost. Firefly also has drinks especially designed for detox(De-Tox), mental concentration(Sharpen Up), relaxing(Chill Out) and overall health( Health Kick). So whatever your needs, Firefly has a drink for you! So im going to be having a vodka-Wake Up before the party and a De-Tox the next morning and If I have a meeting later that day the Sharpen Up!

What I like about Firefly also, is their sense of humour. On all their bottles they have quirky explanations as to whats going on inside the bottle. On Recharge bottel for instance it says, "Feeling sub-prime? Bodily checks bouncing? Boost your body's credit rating with a delicious mix of juicy fruit juices and powerful herbs to get your balance sheet back in the black!" Even on their website www.fireflytonics.com , their is a lot of quirkiness and humour so check it out!

Its gonna be a great summer! Its time to party whoop whoop! But remember we are nothing without our health, so dont go too big too often...and stay healthy. A big thank you to Firefly, i am proud to be associated with a brand that puts health first as this is what i am all about. And im not going to be putting any crap into my body, only the best, so thanks Firefly again!
Time to hit the beach ;)

My top 10 Superfoods for Summer!!!

Health is important, and with summer here, our health often takes a backseat to all the late nights, smoking, drinking and delicious food! It is inevitable, but there are some foods we can take to counteract the damaging effects of summer partying and some we can even snack on during the day for a nice little health boost!

1. Aloe Vera
Aloe is indigenous to the Cape and is full of vitamins, minerals and is antiseptic both internally and externally. It is very good for detox and is beneficial for the liver and kidneys. You can buy it in health stores but Aloe is best eaten super fresh squeezed straight out of the leaf and straight into your banana, pineapple, strawberry and blueberry smoothie!

2. Goji Berries
Goji berries are an ancient Chinese anti-oxidant rich super food, that boost immunity and slow the ageing process. They are a low in sugar dried fruit and thus will not spike insulin(spiking insulin levels is not good). They are high in Omegas, the essential amino acids and contain all 21 of the essential trace minerals. Eat them by themselves or mix with nuts and seeds for a healthy trail mix.

3. The grasses
Cereal grasses are seriously nutritious and are cleansing and detoxifying and contain very high amounts of vitamins and minerals. They are also very high in chlorophyll(the green colour) which our bodies love with a passion! Wheat, barley, alfalfa or oat grasses are available powdered in which case you stir them into something, available in tablets in which case you swallow them or just go to Kauai and have a wheatgrass shot!

4. Spirulina (algae)
Spirulina is chlorophyll rich(what our bodies love with a passion!), anti-oxidant and amino acid rich. Algae was the very 1st form of life and thus its not surprising its so healthy. Mix your spirulina powder into your smoothie in the morning or take it pill form.

5. Maca
Maca is an ancient Peruvian superfood. If you have seen the movie Apocalypto and you are wondering how those Mayans and Incans could just run up mountains forever, well it was thanks to Maca! In all seriousness, they would chew on the root of the Maca plant and it would give them incredible stamina. Maca is high in minerals, amino acids and fatty acids but also acts as an adaptogenic, making you less susceptible to stress and depression. It has also been used in people with infertlity or libido issues with great success. Maca is best taken mixed into a smoothie.

6. Bee Pollen
Bee pollen is one of nature's miracle health foods. If you were stranded on a desert island it is said you could just live on bee pollen and water. It was revered by the ancient Greeks and Egyptians and is now considered "the fountain of youth" and the most complete food found in nature. It is generally quite expensive, but if you want to jump in that fountain of youth get down to your nearest health store!

7. Hemp seed protein powder
Hemp seed protein powder is the finely milled hemp seed once the oil content has been removed. Hemp is especially useful to vegans as hemp is a complete protein containing all essential amino acids. It builds muscle and boosts energy. And I know what some of you are thinking, but unfortuantely Hemp seed protein powder does not contain THC, so it will not get you high! Hemp seed protein powder has a nutty taste and is delicious mixed into a paste with olive oil, garlic, chick peas, tahini and salt...yummy!

8. Sea Vegetables
Sea veggies are the last remnince of the original food...brought to us by the sea, they are the highest source of minerals, are packed with glyco nutrients and they have an alkalizing effect on the body. Dulce, Nori and Kelp are their most common forms...Nori is what they wrap your sushi in, so eat your Nori!

9. Raw Cacao (the cacao nut)
The raw cacao nut is the food with the highest amount of antioxidants, 3 times the amount of goji berries and 10 times amount of blue berries. It is very high in magnesium and is a natural appetite suppressant and anti-depressant. The bean in its raw state is a superfood, its only when the bean is roasted and denatured, and when sugar, trans fats and dairy are added does the superfood become chocolate the 'stupid food'. Raw cacao beans actually have a great taste(not sweet though) and are best eaten like that. A good quality raw cacao powder with nothing added is also very healthy and can be added to smoothies for a delicious chocolately taste. I do approve of Lindt chocolate body paint though... ;)

10. Sprouts
And the best superfood of them all in my opinion...yes the humble sprout. Mung bean, onion, chickpea, lentil, alfalfa etc, all legumes and grains can be sprouted and when they are sprouted they become the ultimate superfood. High in protein, minerals and vitamins, they are also very high in live enzymes, makes sense considering they are essentially alive! Our bodies are mainly water and water is the medium in which all bodily processes take place. But the body also needs enzymes(the catalysts) for these processes to take place. Sprouts provide these enzymes/catalysts in massive amounts. When a fat molecule cannot be processed properly, what happens? It is stored as fat. So if you want to lose weight drink a lot more water and eat a lot more enzyme live foods such as sprouts. Sprinkle them on salads, add them to stir fries(but just briefly heat) or eat them just is!!!

Mastercard Style in the City

Mastercard were hosting a fashion show, entitled Style in the City with Trinny and Suzanna! Trinny and Suzanna are style experts from England with their own BBC TV show called "What not to Wear". I had been given 4 VIP front row tickets so I was not going to miss it ;)

Before the show started we were treated to mini facials and massages, as well as drinks and gourmet chocolates in the VIP tent. Then it was show time!

First up was a fashion show incorporating many brands. The models were beautiful, the clothing stylish and the stage and lighting set up very well. It was one of the best fashion shows Ive seen in a while. The emcees for the event Janez Vermeiren and Jo-Anne Strauss then came out cracked a few jokes and introduced the stars of the show Trinny and Suzanna!

Trinny and Suzzana walked up and down the runway selecting women they felt needed a style makeover. They took them backstage and 10 minutes later they came out and they literally looked like new women! Their outfits and accessories had been changed, as well as hair and make-up and they all looked so much better than before they had gone backstage. The whole time Trinny and Suzanna were explaining their style principles, womens' body shapes and how to apply fashion rules and principles to these specific body types.

The show was great and it was interesting to see Trinny and Suzanna work their magic. It made me realise that anybody, no matter shape or size can look good and stylish. It just takes confidence and some style sense. After all, in our society, its important to look good. That might be superficial but thats the inescapable truth. You are judged on how you look and how you are dressed...so make a good first impression ;)

FTV Midnight Hot Emcee

So for the last 3 weeks in a row I have been emcee for the FTV Midnight Hot shows. Starting with Lingerie night, then the Halloween bash and finally The Demolition Party. FTV Cape Town is under new ownership and they have decided to renovate the entire interior, so we had a demolition party where patrons were allowed to tear things down!

The Halloween party was really fun, all those creative costumes and the person with the best costume I awarded a prize too! And Lingerie night, well who doesnt love lingerie ;)

On a serious note, doing so much emcee work has made me very confident and comfortable in front of a crowd. I am very thankful for this, as being a Mr South Africa, public speaking comes with the territory. To get my message of empathy, peace and courage across I have been learning the nuances and intricacies of public speaking so that the listener doesnt get bored and that they feel what Im saying...As a very wise person once told me: "People will forget how you looked, how you dressed, what you said, but they will never forget the way you made them feel...". So when I talk I want people to feel something.

As Mr SA Finalists it is our job to be the trend setters for how other men should behave. Practically all abuse, crimes and wars are perpetrated by men...through our behaviour and what we say, we have the platform to influence future generations of men. And consequently make this a more peaceful country. I will get my message across!

Being healthy this summer!!!

I like to take a holistic approach to health and this summer with all the partying and overindulgence you can still be healthy...

Mind & Spirit: There is a continuous communication between our brain and every cell in the body. Every thought and emotion registers in the body and affects our health. So look within yourself, using prayer or meditation and develop a spiritual view of life. Yes its a "dog eat dog" world out there but we are all God or Nature's creation and we are all beautiful and we all have a purpose here on earth. This is the truth and dont let man made negative stereotypes effect you in a negative way. Negativity manifests itself in the body and leads to illnesses and compromised health. Life is inherently stressful, but stressing does not take the worry out of tomorrow but it does take the strength out of today. So stay positive and dont ever let other peoples negativity get to you. You can become impenetrable to negativity while you yourself becoming a positivity generating machine.

Water: The human body is 60% water by weight and there is water in every cell in the body. Especially during summer months it is important to drink lots of fresh purified water. Dehydration is linked to allergies, aches, pains and illness so drink more water and not carbonated fizzy drinks!

Nutrition: You are what you eat. A healthy diet is essential, and eating healthily should become a lifestyle rather than a diet. Do you want to look and feel younger for longer? Want to be a 50 year old in the body of a 30 year old?

Then follow these tips:

No white flour products (no white bread, pastries, pasta)

Limited amounts of whole grains (brown rice and quinoa are best)

No sugar(sugar is a poison), use raw honey, xylitol or stevia

Unlimited amounts of legumes (beans, lentils, sprouts)

No hydrogenated fats (margarine and cookies)

No fried foods (stir fry is ok but use olive, avo or nut oils)

Unlimited vegetables (especially if fresh and lightly cooked)

Foods rich in Omega 3 (nuts, seeds and Salmon)

Limited low fat lean protein sources(fish, poultry, eggs, lean red meat)

Fruit(but not too much) and nuts(almonds, brazil and walnuts are best, avoid peanuts)

General Rules:

Whole foods are better than processed foods, if you have to eat bread or pasta, make it wholewheat with seeds etc.

Living things such as vegetables and sprouts are far far better than "dead things" such as canned foods. Try always eat organic as this soil has more life and thus the produce will be more alive!

Avoid colourants, flavourants, preservatives and artificial sweeteners.

Avoid sugar. We are in the midst of an epidemic of sugar addiction which is due in part to the high concentration of sugar in soft drinks(8 teaspoons in a can) and in packaged cookies and sweets. Sugar causes high levels of insulin which over time leads to diabetes, but it also increases cortisol production. Insulin and cortisol are 2 hormones that can dramatically speed up the ageing process. Sugar has a depressant effect on the immune system and causes oxidative stress by creating advanced glycosylated end products which accumulate in the skin(causing age spots) kidneys, arteries and brain. In other words sugar makes you old!

Exercise: Is a key factor in prevention of chronic illnesses and helps with brain function. A sedentary lifestyle leads to decrease quality of life and countless premature deaths each year, in other words fitness cuts your risk of dying. Heart disease, strokes,cancer and diabetes all fall dramatically in people who exercise regularly. Exercise also oxygenates body and brain promoting mental function and a feeling of well being, which reduces stress, depression and anxiety.

Detoxification: Chemicals are constantly being pumped into our environment every second. So its not a question of who needs it, as we all need it! The liver, kidneys and skin are there for detox but they cant keep up wth the massive load of toxins being pumped into our bodies. Follow the eating tips mentioned earlier and avoid smoking(also 2nd hand smoke) and air polluted areas. Every month for a period of 2-3 days just eat fresh vegetable juices and raw sprout salads. Just like a car needs an oil change, so the human body also needs to be cleaned out.

Sunshine: Vitamin D is vital to good health and good mood, so try and get at least 10 mins of sunshine everyday. No more than 30 min though(unless you are using sunscreen), as then the UV rays become detrimental to health.

Sleep: Quality sleep is essential as the body recharges and repairs while we sleep. The body's functions are governed by a 24hr circadian rythym. Not getting sufficient quality sleep puts these rythyms out of whack, leading to hormonal imbalances and health problems. I know in summer its nice to party everyday till late but this will accelerate the ageing process. So here is to "day" pool parties!

And here is to good health!

More to follow...;)

Mr South Africa 2010 Finalist announcement at FTV Silverstar

It was 6pm on a Saturday evening and all 12 finalists had congregated in the basement of FTV Silverstar. At 7:30pm we were due to be announced to the world as the 12 final candidates for Mr SA 2010. We all had to give introductory speeches as to what we do and who we are and nerves were on edge as we practiced our speeches. We all looked very suave in our tuxedos and our hair was done perfectly, thanks to Jessica Jewell. Last year's Mr SA Steven Segal was the emcee for the night and at 7:30 he started the show. After his introduction he started calling us out to give our speeches...the tension was high....


We all made our way upstairs but stayed hidden from the audience. I was 2nd from last and as my name was called i felt this rush of adrenaline as I made my way out in front of the packed audience. I took the mic from Steven and gave my speech, focusing on who I am and what I stand for. I commanded the area and I even had a heckler in the audience, but he was not going to get to me ;) A Mr SA has to have a confident commanding presence and I feel I achieved this as the crowd responded well to me during my speech.



After the speeches we went downstairs and got changed into our sponsored True Religion jeans and tee shirts. We came back upstairs and gave a little fashion show and then we gave the crowd what they wanted and we took our tops off;) This symbolises what Mr SA is all about, being serious and making a difference but having fun at the same time.




We had been introduced to the world and we could all relax now and it was time to let our hair down and party! But party responsibly, as a Mr SA should always be a pillar of integrity and good behaviour. Loui Fish from Glitterati interviewed me after the show and then it was time to mingle...I met one of South Africa's most beautiful woman, Lee Anne Liebenberg, and she is hotter in real life! Well what can I say, I am a man after all;)

After that all the finalists and the organizing committee shook up the dancefloor and we celebrated how far we had come. We also all got to meet Elsie from Ons Huis, what a sweet lady doing so much good for her community, she even partied with us! All the finalists had worked really hard to get here and I was proud of myself and the other 11 men. I want to say a big thanks to the guys for working so hard and making it a great competition so that we can push ourselves and do and be the best we can be. I also want to thank the Mr SA organizers for creating an amazing platform where men can push and develop themselves into people that reach their potential and make a difference and stand up and be counted.

Thank you for this amazing experience.

Weekend in Jozi

So it was the weekend of the Mr SA Finalist announcement...but I had other things planned also, and it was going to be a massive weekend...

I woke up at 5am on Friday morning and was at the airport by 6am as I had a 6:45 flight to Johannesburg. I was picked up from OR Tambo at 9am and taken to the Randburg sports complex where I was due to shoot the Heat Manwatch 2010 calendar. The shoot went very well and its going to be a hot calendar ;) I was then dropped off at the Fourways Virgin Active Gym in town where I was going to be training with Pieter and his trainer and Durban Mr SA finalist Murray Clark. The trainer put us through the ringer and I was sore in places the next day I didnt know existed.

It had been a long day, but that night Gareth Cliff had invited myself and Murray to FTV Cedar Square, so we decided to go check out the JoBurg night life...I almost regretted that decision as Gareth can be very persuasive and is a real party animal, but Murray and I pretended to go to the bathroom and made a dash for it! We had escaped and were home by 12.

Good thing, as we needed to be up at 7am as we had a big day ahead of us. We met at the Black Eagle Lodge, where we would be staying, and I met the 11 other finalists. We had breakfast and did some official Mr SA photographs. We then went through to the Silverstar casino where we had an all you can eat lunch, a 2 hour spa treatment and it was also the official finalist announcement at the Silverstar FTV.

The next day we woke up and went for a great spin class at Little Falls Virgin Active. After that it was off to Fournos Bakery for a great breakfast and pictures and mingling with the public. After that the Mr SA weekend was officially over...but I was not done yet. I had a shoot with avant garde photographer Louis Botha. The shoot went very well and Louis is a very good photographer.

All in all it was a great weekend. I had some great photographs done and met some awesome people. The Mr SA organising committee is a great buch of people and I am so happy to be working with them. The Black Eagle Guest Lodge where we stayed is so beautiful and I am definitely going to stay there again. And finally the other 11 finalists...all I can say is what a great bunch of guys, I definitely have some friends for life. It was a truly incredible weekend and an amazing piece of the Mr SA experience.

Pic top: Me with finalists Murray, Johan and Geoffrey

Pic 2nd from top: Me with last year Mr SA runner up and ultimate nice guy Jaco De Bruyn

Pic 3rd from top: Me with the gorgeous Tahlita and Jessica

Pic 2nd from bottom: Me with head of Mr SA, the enigmatic Susca Stemmet

Pic bottom:All the finalists, the top 12 most desirable men in SA!!! ;)

FTV Midnight Hot feat. The Locnville brothers

On the 10th of October FTV hosted their weekly Midnight Hot Fashion show and this week the Locnville brothers would be performing. They are 2 brothers from New York with this cool hip hop commercial fusion sound who have been getting a lot of air time on MTV and 5FM.

I was asked to be part of the show, but as I said I am hanging up my briefs for a while so then they asked me if I would emcee the show. I enjoy emcee'ing and its an integral part of any performance to be comfortable in front of a crowd. And especially to be a good Mr SA you have to be very comfortable in front of a crowd and u literally have to own the space and the crowd. You have to be commanding in your presence and tone.

And just like everything in life, practice makes perfect. I do have a natural presence but everything can always be worked upon and thus I take every public speaking or appearance opportunity with open arms. If I become the next Mr SA I want to be the best, most confident public speaker imaginable so that my message and what I and Mr SA stands for, comes across loud and clear.

Sanlam SA Fashion Week

Sanlam were hosting their SA Fashion Week, and this year the Cape Town leg was being held at the V&A Waterfront. I was lucky enough to have been invited by Sanalm...and they had given me front row seats ;)

The show was being held above the Future Exotics luxury vehicle showroom, so before the show started I decided to go downstairs and decide what car I wanted to get next...All men love cars and this guy(me) is no exception! Their were Rolls and Porsches but my eye was immediatley drawn to the Ferrari 340 and the Lamborghini Gallardo. I looked at them both, I feel a Ferrari should always be red so I liked that and Ferrari does have more of an allure but I preferred the sleeker lines of the Gallardo...So I decided to get them both. The Ferrari will be my day car, while the Lambo will be for night time use...And then I woke up from my daydream! ;)

On a serious note they are incredible works of human craftmanship and represent the apex of power and performance, but the carbon emissions from these "beasts" is just too high for me to be morally justified in driving one. Nature is being destroyed as we speak, I am not going to add to that. Also, the sheer amount of money these cars cost, I would not be able to drive one knowing I just dropped 2 mil on something, knowing just how many starving kids that amount of money would feed.


So after my dreams of owning an Italian supercar were dashed by moral objections, I decided to make my way upstairs...It was almost showtime! The room was packed with celebrities and fashionistas...oh I do say;) 5 designers were on show this night, and most of the stuff was quite quirky and avant garde but I respect and find the beauty in all fashion, as it is a display of someones creativity. And for me it is creativity that is the most beautiful human trait and I feel human creativity should never be dampened but enhanced and supported.

So my only critique is that I wish they had of used more creativity in the actual show production. 30 minutes into the show and a few people actually started walking out as the show was, to put it bluntly, quite boring. The models just came out and walked the runway one by one, and yes I understand the focus is the clothes and their designs, but I still feel there needs to be some entertainment value. But overall it was a good production and I have to thank Sanlam and co-sponsor Jameson for creating the platform for local talent to be showcased. SA has so much talent in all spheres and it needs to be showed off. So good job!

FTV Midnight Hot with Elana Afrika

So it was Saturday and that meant it was time for FTV Midnight Hot! This week it was a special 5FM party with Elana Afrika. So I couldnt miss it! Yes by now I am getting a little tired of prancing around in my underwear, as I feel Im getting a bit overexposed, literally and figuratively ;) So Im gonna be hanging up my...umm...underwear for a while! The money is quite good, but to be a legitimate Mr SA contender, i need to be taken seriously. So next time will only be for a big event or for a big underwear shoot.

The party was really cool, Elana is really vivacious and a real sweetheart and she knows how to get the crowed amped! The lingerie for this week was JT1's latest range called "Angel Wings". The girls looked really sexy and a good time was had by all!

Etihad Airline Launch

So it was a Thursday, the day after D-Day(day all submissions for Mr SA needed to be in by) and I felt like doing something...well fortunately I had been invited to the new Etihad flight launch announcement and cocktail party at The One and Only hotel in the Waterfront. Etihad will now be providing a flight between Cape Town and Abu Dhabi. This is very good for us, as to put it bluntly, people from that area put our reference of "being rich" literally to shame. Etihad has also been voted the best airline with the highset standard of service and this is the only way high rollers fly. So now we will basically have a lot more high rollers coming and they will be using their preferred method of transport;)

The event itself was great, free flowing alcohol, delicious snacks, corporate executives and other great guests. I was lucky enough to meet Jeannie Dee, she is such a sweetheart and we really hit it off(in a purely platonic manner), and Jo Anne Strauss. Jo Anne Strauss is an ex Miss SA and she was compere for the evening. I was thoroughly impressed with her compering skills, elegant, graceful, perfect pronunciation and still very humorous. And I thought she was a Miss SA and look at her now, that competition was the beginning of her shaping into this brilliant host.

And I drew a parallel with myself, not saying Im going to win like Jo-Anne did, but I do have a degree and many life experiences which have shaped me thus far, but this competition feels like it has significantly shaped me thus far and it still has a lot of shaping to do! Never be afraid to grow in a positive manner and there is always so much to learn...Be the best you can!!!

My Mr SA experience thus far...

Well all I can say is thank you to the Mr SA committee and organizers for putting this whole thing together. It has been a truly amazing experience. I was unsure as to whether I wanted to do it, as im the type of person when I am committed to something, I AM COMMITED TO IT ;)
So I dont do anything for 2nd place or plan to be an "also man", if I was going to do this competition, in the end I wanted to be standing on the final ceremony stage holding that staff as the new Mr SA!

So I was undecided, and then while chatting to last years runner up Jaco De Bruyn(on Facebook) he said to me that it was the best experience of his life without a doubt. So after that I was convinced! And so far I completely agree with Jaco, this competition is almost like something I feel that every man should partake in. My sons will be scouts and now they will also be entering Mr SA(or Junior SA).

The things you learn about yourself and others on this journey has been incredible. Like I always knew I wanted to make a difference, but I wasnt sure how. Doing this competition makes you focus all your collective energies so that you now as a man become focused and driven. And it really tests your metal as a man. Can you do what it takes, do you have the courage to be in the limelight and make things happen? These are the questions doing this competition asks you.

My fund raising for Ons Huis has yielded mixed results. My goal was to have 5 avenues or sources of charity. An avenue where everybody or any person could donate(the sms line). Avenues where money was raised in specialized events, and lastly corporate sponsorship. My charity auction and "Angels for Charity" show were successful. My charity serenades were slightly successful, the sms line not successful and the corporate sponsorship...well... up until an half an hour before the 5pm deadline I thought it was successful.

But such is life and there are hiccups or hurdles at every turn. People or companies will "let you down", but its nothing to get sad about as this is a part of life. And it is the struggle that makes something more worthwhile. However, I was a little disappointed in myself as I do feel a connection now to Ons Huis and even though we were given a mandate that its not the actual amount, but the effort and creativity that counts, things still cost an actual amount. For example lets say the cheapest they can get a new activity hall is R20 000 and I need to raise that money, raising only R10 000 wont get the hall built. Im not saying this to dis-credit myself, but I did set myself a target and I did not reach it. I sure as hell did try but life throws you curveballs and as long as you learn from your mistakes thats all that matters.

Its not about me being hard on myself, its about being responsible and being honest with myself and everyone. And this is what this competition has taught me, that a real man is responsible, honest and has integrity. Looks, body, money, business skills, charm all fall out of the window if he does not have these qualities. Thats why part of me taking responsibilty, I will be donating the charity line to Ons Huis and I am currently corresponding with the SABC as to getting radio advertising for Ons Huis and/or the charity line so that it is more effective, as I feel the charity sms line is a great idea.

I have learnt so much these last 2 months about myself and what my purpose on this planet is. And through people reading my blog or seeing related posts on Facebook, I have met some amazing people from all over the world who are also driven to make a difference. And through increasing my media profile I have gained more confidence and I now know that I am very well suited to the public eye, as I have the composure, confidence and inner strength to be in it.
And most importantly I have learnt the channels and the means through which change can be made.

So thank you to Mr SA itself, all the other competitors and to our beautiful country.
I know I have what it takes to be a great Mr SA and bring about positive change.
But even if I dont become a finalist, I am still so thankful as this has been a great experience and has set me on my path.
We can make a diiference.
You just need believe...
and eventually in your heart,
you will know.

2010 World Cup and The Environment

Like many fellow South Africans I am a soccer crazy man. I really love my sport and have been very sporty from a young age, having always played soccer. My teams are Bafana, Greece and Manchester United! When I heard that South Africa was the host for the 2010 Soccer World Cup i almost jumped through the roof! I could not wait to get my tickets and watch a match in my home city. I tried to get tickets twice in the draw but was super unlucky, now i have to drive past the staduim and know that i am not going to be going to see a match. All Cape Town matches were sold out within days. All I have is to hope that i am able to buy a ticket in the last minute sales in December.

I must say i am a bit worried about the World Cup though, we are spending billions on new stadia and infrastructure, but are we going to profit from it? Some Gurus say a new dawn will foster in growth and development in South Africa and that our world class cities will shine through. I am so so positive that we are going to do well! My concern is more what needs to be done in advertising the world cup to South Africans. Recently I have seen a little bun fight on TV, 1st we have the BP Castrol adverts that speak directly about the World Cup as sponsor then we have Engen who are not the sponsors but come across as true Nation Builders. I get goose bumps when I watch anyone of their "Africa Welcomes" you adverts. Congrads Engen on a campaign that appeals to South Africans.

The 2010 organizing committee should have launched a campaign that is Proudly South African that will help people get to know our country better to get ordinary South Africans to become brand ambassadors for our country. Only we can help build the country and make 2010 work. So it's about time we tell the world that we are one united South Africa. We need to greet the world with a smile and a "Sanibona" or "Welcome to South Africa", make conversations and help tourists on there way around South Africa.

The infrastructure development will bode us well however, that's if we have no black outs during the matches... Today I paid my Electricity bill and nearly fell over when it arrived yesterday, has anyone realized that we all of a sudden have had a massive increase in the rates? Yesterday's newspaper says that there will be another increase on the horizon. Wow are we being milked?! We are paying high electricity bills for the infrastructure development of companies, days after they release there annual reports with dividends to all the shareholders and directors, then they say "please the public pay us more cos we need to build more plants to generate power".

Has anyone heard of the Venus project? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWylckZ9G64
I would highly recommend everyone to watch this video and see that things dont need to be the way that they are now. The world IS self sustainable and is able to live off its own natural resources. Nobody needs to be poor, the world actually has enough! Technology has provided us with energy creating mechanisms that are 100% eco friendly. If you only do one thing I ask, its watch this video...yes its long and it will chow your bandwidth, but its worth it ;)

But people have been using eco friendly methods for generations around the globe. I'll use the Scandinavian countries as an eg. They build eco friendly homes that have inset doubled glazed windows that keep in the heat. Air ducts above the roof open and close to moderate the temperature so that it is not too hot or cold. They have solar panels that generate electricity that supplies the home and stores it for winter. A clever model is that extra electricity generated from the solar panels are fed back into the power grid allowing for small to medium enterprise to use it and pay the householder in return. What an amazing idea. In South Africa we have constant sunshine that this could bode well and help alleviate the electricity crisis.
In Germany buildings are built with double glazed glass to allow in as much light as possible so no lights needed in the day. All windows have solar panels that rotate with the setting of the sun to capture as much solar energy as possible this is stored in solar batteries for winter. Water in the buildings are even recycled and used to feed plants.

I was lucky enough to be given a guided tour of the BP Headquarters in Cape Town, a truly self sufficient building run on the Scandinavian model. The building is cooled through air vents and no air conditioning is used. What an amazing feat! We need to learn and implement. While visiting India i was amazed to find out that in the palaces, designers had fountains put into every bedroom, why because the cooling effect of the water was amazing. Condensation was used to cool the room. A modern day air con runs on the same methodology but uses valuable electricity. In Kenya people place copper pipes around all there ceilings and around the corners of their floors and pump water through it. The water moving through the pipes cools the room down.

Amazing what we can learn from our forefathers. The City of Cape Town has been a fore runner in getting Traffic lights powered by solar panels and some advertising companies light up there billboards with them at night. Great way to bring down costs. I, upon leaning about Solar panels and heating, was thrilled and thought now it's my time to put this into action. I called up a few companies and enquired about how I could use Solar Panels to electrify my home. I thought i was getting somewhere until i realized that it was exorbitant. I was advised that if i was building a new home that's the best time to get this done. So I, like you, will be paying an expensive Eskom bill for a long time to come...
But things can change.
And the only constant in life is change, after all.
I hope that when 2010 is here and its World Cup time, that I am Mr South Africa.
I know I will make this nation proud.

Charity serenades

So I wanted to put my singing talents to good use and raise money for charity at the same time;)

I thought it a very fun concept that would lighten up the office gloom, and the office would just have to donate any amount they pleased to Ons Huis.

In total I did 3 serenades. I would have done one everyday if I could have, cos its actually a lot of fun and it does lift peoples' moods. Like the second one I did for an employee at Ogilvy. The lady I was due to serenade, it was her birthday. She has a senior managerial position there, so obviously its a very stressful job but on this particular day she was more stressed and maybe the fact that it was her birthday compounded it.

It was a surprise serenade, and after she got up and walked away crying. I thought that maybe I had upset her. Other co-workers walked after her and i followed, and while she was crying she started smiling lightly. So they were not tears of sorrow or joy, but more of relief. She had been having such a stressful day, it was her birthday which compounded it further, so she was holding all this stress and tension inside instead of being happy to celibrate another year of life. So something during the serenade must have warmed her heart and relieved all the pressure she was keeping on herself. I did sing "Smile"(though your heart is breaking, even though its aching...) so it was an apt choice.

The other 2 I did were at SABC and DraftFCB, also ladies' birthdays. So I had brought smiles to some peoples' faces while raising some money for charity.

I will be auditioning for Idols again this year!

Jokes, Im destined for bigger things and singing is not my strongest point ;)

Recent Publicity

So there is that saying that all publicity is good publicity...well maybe if you are Paris Hilton yes! But if you want to be Mr SA you have to ensure that your name remains clean so that when people think of you the 1st thoughts are those of integrity and morality. This is very important as this is whta Mr SA represents.

This month I was in Get It magazine, a local Cape Town mag. They profiled myself and another Sea Pointer in the competition, Michal Mechant. Michal and I actually grew up together. We went to the same school and were both with the same scout group. So best of luck to him, I hope he progresses.


Then the other publicity I have is some great news which I am really excited about! I have been selected as the face of, or brand ambassador, for Stiaan Louw's new campaign. This cutting edge and genius designer burst onto the Cape Town scene a few years back and has been making an impact ever since. He likes my look, as he wants to go in a more "sexy", "manly" direction as in past his campaigns were quite androgynous. He also likes my connection to Mr SA and the fact that Im driven to make a difference.

As this campaign he wants to have meaning, he wants there to be more behind it than the obvious. I think I have converted him and he also wants to make a difference! There is planned to be a lot of media hype around this campaign, this is 1st media link http://www.cptstreetmag.co.za/newspage.html. The campaign is set to be amazing and create good exposure.
Fasion with a cause;)

Fashion, Charity and sms line for Ons Huis

From as long as I can remember Fashion and Charity have always been interrelated. from Gianni Verscace to Elton Johns Aids Trust. Giving back is something that people find difficult to do, that R 1 rand is easy to give to a car guard but ask for R 10 and people think twice. Coming up with an sms line that people can donate to charity immediately is a grand idea, however getting people to part with there money is even harder. I wonder sometimes how easily people will spend money on drinks on a night out partying or the expensive dinners... Don't get me wrong, I love a good party and nice restaurants. It's so much easier to spend on yourself than help others. Through being a semi finalist for the MR SA I have had numerous interviews on radio stations and TV and I thought as soon as I mention donate to a charity that people would all take out there phones and donate right away. I sincerely was hoping for Pavlov's law of pre-condition to apply lol!

However I realized that to get someone to part with there money is not an easy thing. To get people to be charitable you need to stop and talk to them individually and explain what the charity is all about, why the charity needs money and how you are involved in the process. It is more about spending a lot of time with people convincing them to donate. I know that when I become MR SA I am going to use my celebrity to impress upon people the need to give more, more easily. Giving, I do not confine to only money, it's also your time and effort. I have always wanted to make a difference in the lives of people, I want to see the happiness that beams on there faces when a little help makes there day. A friend of mine's dad helps communities with Sustainable Development, basically him and his friends physically build crèches in poverty stricken areas and build Tunnel farms next door, so the teachers fees are paid by the produce that gets sold. What a great iniaitve a small way to help build our nation.

Many south Africans are were they are today because of the Apartheid Legacy. Forcing people to live in area's with boundaries, not allowing them to own property, quelling their thirst for knowledge but not schooling them well. All these factors have contributed to our South African situation. It's time we all help to build a nation that is strong and self sufficient. Sometimes I wonder is it only the rich that feel charitable then I remembered my trip to India, a country of contrasts of extremely wealthy and most poverty stricken. While driving past some areas I would gasp at how some people really lived, how children would be running around smiling and laughing and playing on the sides of the road. I'd peer in at a small home that had a bed and some pots and was around 1m by 2m that housed 4 people, they were happy and content. I learned from my friends that the poorest of the poor never go hungry because it is in there culture to share, share their food and what little that they have. I think people with so little can get together and help each other imagine what we can do to help out fellow citizens improve. It's endless.

Someone gave me a very good idea, ask 10 of my close friends to donate R100 and get each of them to ask 10 of their close friends to donate R100 and so on and so on. I thought I would go one better by asking people to only donate R10 and instead of them giving me the cash or having to go to a bank to deposit it, all they would have to do is send a simple sms. It was so simple and effortless and I thought "well its only R10". I am always honest, so Im not going to try and hide the fact that the charity sms line has not been a success. The number of sms'es received is nowhere near where I thought it should be or where it ought to be. I punted it everyday on Facebook, i asked people to sms at all my events, I was even interviewed on Lotus FM where I asked people to vote and the DJ's mentioned it on 5FM and Good Hope FM. I could have put in more effort in advertising or marketing it, but I felt I had put in enough and I thought the novelty and simplicity of it would get people smsing. I mean people were smsing for all these "face of" competitions, I thought they would want to sms for charity, for a good cause.

But as with anytime you do something for the 1st time, its never going to be perfect 1st time and you live and learn. I guess R10 is too much, people obviously hear R10 and something says to them "too much!". Or maybe people thought the only reason I was doing the line was purely out of self interest, or that the money wouldn't go to charity. So that being said I have decided to donate the sms line to Ons Huis, so that they can learn from my mistakes and make it more effective. As I still believe it is a very good idea and is virtually hassle free. Honestly what is easier than sending an sms? Through this whole process I feel somehow now connected to Ons Huis and I want them to grow and strengthen. So they will have the charity line and it will always be something to remember me by. Even if I dont win or become a finalist they will still have it, and it will be something that lasts long after the competition has ended.
This will be my lasting contribution to them.
They are a great charity that shines light into the lives of others.
I commend them for making a difference and having the courage to look past their own selfish needs and actually think about others.
They strive to and do make a difference.
And this is their lasting contribution to us.

"Angels For Charity" Lingerie show

On Saturday 26th September, my 2nd event took place...my "Angels for Charity" lingerie show. This was to be my pinnacle show, the accumulation of all my efforts. I wanted to create awareness for Mr SA and Ons Huis, raise funds for the charity and also showcase some of Cape Town's up and coming modelling talent. While melding beauty and charity together.

I had approached many sponsors for this event, as well for the Mr SA itself, and I was hoping to get Ola Magnum(something sweet), Moet(something bubbly) and Lamborghini(something sexy) on board. Moet was a no, Lamborghini an almost(they liked the concept, but were worried bout possible damage), but Ola really liked the idea and were a go. I organised French Knickers to provide the lingerie, and Finger Clothing would use the event to launch their new swimwear range.

So everything was set...except I needed wings for the angels!
Nothing an hour drive to Stellenbosch couldnt fix ;) So my angels had their wings, I had my sponsors and the marketing machine was in motion. I really needed the wings as they would amplify the meaning of the concept behind the show. The concept was based on a paradoxical antithesis of the 7 deadly sins. Except now my 7 angels would represent the opposite of sins, all that is good and from heaven. Everybody needs an angel in their life, someone to shine some light in when things are down. All of you reading this have had "angels" in your life, be it your parents, friends or family members. But there are a lot of people who have not been this fortunate, and they have no-one looking out for them, no-one to shine "light" into their lives. Ons Huis are like angels, shining light and hope into the lives of the less fotunate.


I spoke to the crowd about this, but it was a little lost on them as they were quite young and superficial. But a few people did listen and they came up to me after to say that they also "care". But the point of the evening was to raise money for charity and put on a good show and party at the same time. And the place was packed! 12 o'clock came and the crowd was getting restless, they wanted to see some beautiful girls in lingerie...

It was show time! 1st the models came out in Finger's new swimwear range, just to warm the crowd up. They went backstage to put on the lingerie and wings and just before they were to come out again, the lights went off...and then back on and the angels appeared on stage to a roar from the crowd. They looked really gorgeous up there and for a second I felt like I was in heaven;)

On a serious note though, the event was a great success. The venue was packed, I was able to get the message of charity and Ons Huis across and some money was raised for Ons Huis. After the show 3 Ola girls handed out some ice cold Magnum ice creams to the crowd, to cool them down after the "hot" show they had just watched.

I would like to thank Ola Magnum, French Knickers, Finger, FTV Cape Town, Ons Huis and the Mr SA committee for making the event possible.

We all need angels in our life.

Someone to shine some light.

Together we can overcome any darkness.

Lets make a difference.

31st annual Loeri Awards

The 31st Loeri Awards took place after the last weekend, and for the 1st time in the events history it was going to take place in the mother city, Cape Town. The venue was the Good Hope Centre. The bars were fully stocked, as there is a joke that advertising executives love to drink, well they work so hard...so they play so hard!

And you could see that their hard work had definitely paid off. I was lucky enough to have 2nd row seats in the packed auditorium, and what I saw was very impressive and made me proud to be South African.


The whole setup of the award stage and the background visuals was the stuff of a sci-fi movie, with the visuals making you feel like you were in a Star Wars ship. John Vlismas was the host and he did a very good job. Then it came time for the awards. The Loeris celebrates and awards excellence in the advertising industry ranging from website multimedia to radio and television commercials. The 1st awards were for digital multimedia. I had no idea that South Africans produced such amazing websites, with their user interactivity being the most impressive things.

There were other industry related awards, and then it came time for the television commercial awards. This is what the crowd and I had been waiting for. There is just something about South African commercials that maybe only we understand, but I think they are just universally funny. For me personally the Nandos commercials steal the show, combination of humour and controversy.

The big winners of the night were the big players in the industry, with Ogilvy, DraftFCB and TBWA/Hunt/Lascaris taking home most of the awards. The event was a very good experience for me, as it opened my eyes as to how creative South Africans can be. And how important creativity is. It keeps things fun, people excited and it gets people spending. This is why creativity is so important in charity fundraising and sponsorship accrual, and even in everyday life. Sometimes I let people dampen my creative spirit, but no more. My mind is awake and through our creativity we can influence people and thus improve things that need improvement.
No idea is ever a bad one, make sure it gets heard ;)