As the glitz and glamour of the 2024 South African Music Awards (SAMAs) rolled out the red carpet on 2 November, Mzansi was all eyes on the stars—not just for their chart-topping hits, but for their bold (and sometimes questionable) fashion choices. From show-stopping gowns to head-tilting ensembles, Mzansi was not too impressed with what celebs had to offer.
Themed “Proudly South African with a Chic Twist”, some celebrities dazzled us with their vibrant and glamorous looks, while others missed the mark by a mile. As social media lit up, X (formerly known as Twitter) users were quick to grab their score sheets and share their thoughts, with some praising the fashion hits and others tilting their heads at the misses.
It’s clear that our stars might need to step up their game on the red carpet. Fans have taken to social media to voice their concern and disappointment, declaring that it seems South Africans struggle to dress for a red carpet occasion. After this fashion rollercoaster, the pressure is on for our stars to redeem themselves at the next big event.
The Red carpet hates to see South African celebrities coming , cause they can’t dress for days .. it’s embarrassing at this rate . They don’t even try sana #SAMA30 pic.twitter.com/A8xUG496WW
— Mpho Ramaphiri 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦 (@RamaphiriMpho) November 2, 2024
South Africans are beautiful hey, we just lack on red carpet looks #SAMA30
— Shalati🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦 Megacy (@Waka_Zitha_) November 2, 2024
Yoh kana South African celebrities and red carpet fashion don’t mix. EPIC FAIL!!!! Every single time #SAMA30 #LessNoiseMoreMusic pic.twitter.com/iJZ3MrrCkG
— Thandolwethu (@ThandoOle) November 2, 2024
Amongst many others, industry favourites like Busiswa, Babes Wodumo, and Bontle Modiselle left a couple eyebrow raised for the wrong reasons.
What is this now? 😭![CDATA[]]>😭 I love Busiswa and they failed her here 🤦
— VirgoLady ♍🌻 (@Tebogo16_09) November 3, 2024
Arrest the designer
— Black man you’re on your own (@FrankTalk0000) November 3, 2024
Maybe she was coming straight from Home affairs
— Oscar Ofentse Letsoalo (@Scarnia_11) November 4, 2024
What a mess! I dont even know where to look!
— kele_pilane (@PilaneKele) November 4, 2024
What the heck is that dress???? Are South African designers really serious????😭![CDATA[]]>😭![CDATA[]]>😭
— Allegedly (@Allegedlie) November 3, 2024
That dress is horr-i-ble 😭
— Julianne 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦![CDATA[]]>🇧![CDATA[]]>🇼 (@IrisJulianne) November 3, 2024
Not only were our local celebrities in the firing line, but so were the designers. Mzansi certainly didn’t hold back when it came to holding South African designers accountable. Viewers were quick to express their boredom with the same old looks, calling out designers to step up their game, suggesting that a little inspiration from Nigerian designers wouldn’t hurt. It’s clear that Mzansi is ready to see a fashion takeover from local designers.
I know South Africa has beef with Nigeria neh, but when it comes to makeup and fashion they are like already in 2038 and we are still stuck in 2019 blaming COVID19 for it, we haven’t seen anything beyond 2020🚮![CDATA[]]>🚮. Every other event has proved that.
— mapula tlhako (@mprettilicous) November 3, 2024
I feel like with SA there is no in between they either look over dressed or other make no effort. Can’t be these same style of dresses and designs always guys. They need to find a middle ground
— 🇸![CDATA[]]>🇩![CDATA[]]>🇵![CDATA[]]>🇸![CDATA[]]>🇨![CDATA[]]>🇩Lumka Jwara (@lumka_jwara) November 3, 2024
