This year’s GLAMOUR Women of the Year Awards, themed “The Game Changers Edition,” honoured 12 extraordinary women who are trailblazers in their fields. After a two-year hiatus, the event returned on Saturday, November 19.
The crème de la crème of the social scene and VVIPs attended the pink carpet event, which was held at the lovely Boschendal Wine Estate.
“With WOTY we are honouring and highlighting phenomenal women who are leaders in their chosen fields. These women are game-changers and deserve to be celebrated as outstanding individuals who are changing the narrative and pushing boundaries when it comes to the way they work, and this is the essence of the GLAMOUR brand,” says GLAMOUR’s Editor-In-Chief, Nontando Mposo.
See the list of winners below:
International Gamechanger
Peace Hyde
Peace is the creator and executive producer of Netflix’s first African reality TV series Young, Famous & African, as well as the Head of digital media and partnership and the West African Correspondent at Forbes Africa. She is the founder of Aim Higher Africa, a non-profit organization focused on improving the quality of education in impoverished communities across Africa. Her list of accolades includes being shortlisted amongst 200 leaders as part of the Obama Foundation Africa Leaders program and the African Social Impact Award at the House of Parliament, House of Commons in the UK in 2019.
Gamechanging Actress
Thuso Mbedu
The KZN born actress is making waves in Hollywood. She’s managed to capture the attention of global audiences with her range and work ethic. Her list of accolades includes a SAFTA for best actress in a TV Drama in 2018, a Hollywood Critics Association Award for TV Breakout Star in 2021, a Gotham Award for Outstanding Performance in New Series in the same year, as well as an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Performance in New Scripted Series in 2022. Her most recent role in The Woman King alongside Viola Davis has also been critically acclaimed.
Gamechanging Entrepreneur
Siba Mtongana
The multi-award-winning, internationally acclaimed Celebrity Chef, author and founder of the Siba Company. She’s also the owner of Siba Restaurant which offers an iconic 5-star dining experience in the heart of Cape Town. Her list of achievements includes being hand-picked by the presidency to culinary direct and curate the VIP menu for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration, international awards for her book My Table as well as five 5 US Film and Television Awards, and four local awards for her TV shows.
Tech Gamechanger
Tashline Jooste
Chief Executive Officer for the Innovator Trust, created to support the growth of small black-owned Information and Communications Technology (ICT) businesses in South Africa. Her approach to social impact positions her as a trailblazer in the tech space. Tashline is an advocate for female entrepreneurship with extensive business experience and has done extraordinary work in terms of visibility for women in tech.
Beauty Gamechanger
Dr Vanessa Lapiner
Specialist Dermatologist and founder of root4 skincare, TASH360 and AD&L. Rooted in her integrative dermatology approach, her inclusive range is disrupting the skincare industry through cutting-edge technology and scientifically proven powerful active ingredients that benefit the skin’s health.
Mental Health Gamechanger
Shudufhadzo Musiḓa
Published Author and Mental Health Advocate. Shudu used her platform as Miss SA 2020 to launch her platform MindfulMondays in partnership with SADAG to raise awareness around mental health and continues to elevate the conversation. She has also been appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Global Surgery Foundation.
Sustainability Gamechanger
Jackie May
Founder & Editor of Twyg she is championing sustainability through her NPO. Twyg promotes sustainable, circular, regenerative, caring and ethical living. The content she publishes on the platform is a commitment to exploring ways we can live well now while ensuring a kinder, inclusive, nature-friendly future for all. When she’s not producing content for her site, she works with Refashion Lab exploring inclusive and repurposed fashion.
Fashion Gamechanger
Yoliswa Mqoco
The award-winning social media influencer, stylist and digital creator has positioned herself as a game changer in the design and fashion spaces. As a plus-size model, she continues to elevate the conversation around representation through her beautifully curated content on Instagram and the liberatory practice of expressing yourself. Yoliswa wears confidence and self-love and encourages curvy women to have just as much fun dressing up as everybody else.
Gamechanger in Music
DBN Gogo
DJ and producer Mandisa Radebe, popularly known as DBN Gogo, has cemented herself as an influential figure on the SA music scene. The ‘Khuza Gogo’ hitmaker is at the peak of her career and has helped shape the amapiano wave. Her music has taken on a unique form, and her hit songs feature on playlists across the country as a DJ, and she dominates the charts.
Sports Gamechanger
Janine van Wyk
Not only is she the captain of the Women’s National Football team but she plays for her own club, JVW. She is the highest-capped player in South Africa with 180 appearances and the highest-capped female in CAF. During her tenure as captain, Banyana Banyana has done exceptionally well. Led by Coach Desiree Ellis, the team was also crowned the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions.
Icon Award
Anele Mdoda
The award-winning broadcaster has a long-standing career in radio and TV which spans over 17 years. Her show The 947 Breakfast Club with Anele is one of the most popular radio shows. The 947 radio host speaks with lots of passion and her longevity can be attributed to her infectious personality and take on current affairs, parenting and lifestyle-related topics. Anele is also an award-winning television presenter hosting various shows including SA’s Got Talent, and Miss SA and winning a SAFTA for her talk show Real Talk with Anele.
Next Gen Gamechanger
Rabia Ghoor
Swiitch Beauty is one of South Africa’s most popular beauty brands. Rhabia started her makeup range Swiitch Beauty at just 14 years old. Seven years later Swiitch Beauty has grown into the innovative digital makeup brand we know and love. Rhabia created an affordable local beauty brand for South Africans that has the same variety and quality as other countries. The range features 20 products including cosmetics, skincare and sunscreen and has recently expanded to the retail space at We Are Egg in Cavendish Square.
Osunde did not take her comment lightly. She retorted, saying, “We’re tired of seeing your face too in your office. Damn! I hope they sack you.”
Enioluwa then took to X to address the notion of Nollywood using familiar faces in films. He stressed that it happens because of finances.
He wrote,
“People often say they’re tired of seeing the same faces in Nigerian films. However, unlike in Hollywood, actors in Nigeria can’t afford to do just one film a year—how much are they paying? The industry currently can’t support as many newcomers as people might expect because, realistically, many of them wouldn’t be able to meet even their basic needs. No one wants to be famous and financially unstable.”
In response, another X user asked him for practical solutions, urging him to suggest actionable steps rather than just highlighting the problems. “You made a crucial point there but you didn’t suggest any solution,” he commented.
Enioluwa then explained,
We don’t have the buying power yet; it’s growing because streaming platforms have come in and people have made more records in the box office. Nevertheless, you can’t equate it to Hollywood, an Avengers that made over $2 billion that can pay its actors millions of dollars and still have enough profit.
People often say they’re tired of seeing the same faces in Nigerian films.
However, unlike in Hollywood, actors in Nigeria can’t afford to do just one film a year— how much are they paying.
The industry currently can’t support as many newcomers as people might expect because,…
Nollywood filmmaker John Njamah recently voiced his concern about the prevailing casting practices in the industry. He argued that casting decisions should prioritize an actor’s talent over their physical appearance or social media popularity.
In an exclusive interview, Njamah, a Nollywood veteran, gave insightful commentary on the current state and future trajectory of Nigerian cinema.
Known for his role as Rabiu in the popular TV soap opera “Fuji House of Commotion,” Njamah has also graced the screens of numerous television shows.
Interestingly, the shows he has featured in include “Tinsel,” “Living In Lagos,” “Solitaire,” “Casino,” “Emerald,” “Tide,” and “My Flatmates.”
During the interview, Njamah talked about his filmmaking journey. He emphasized his unwavering passion for the industry and his aspirations for its continued development.
“What is fuelling me is beyond passion. There’s that knack and need to grow with every month, whatever year. There’s that need to.do something different. This industry of ours is for you to do whatever you want to do and not join the bandwagon. So for me, it’s the originality in me and the need to do something right that is fuelling me Basically, it’s the ever-creative venture in me,” he said.
Njamah discussed how African stories are evolving. Furthermore, he emphasized that positive and negative changes have happened over the years.
“There’s a positive aspect and there’s a negative aspect. There’s a technical input. We’re telling our stories better technically. We’re telling better and bigger stories. The negative is that we are beginning to lose our originality. We are beginning to join the bandwagon to tell what is peculiar to other people and not to us. We are beginning to lose a bit of our identity cos there’s no longer us,” he said.
What’s more, Njamah spoke about casting in the industry. He pointed out differences between the industry during his time and the current climate, especially with casting.
“Fuji House was a one-camera shoot with hungry and passionate people. Now we have people who cast people who are beautiful and with Barbie bodies and followership and not necessarily for your talents. Some of us try to be that original because that’s where better stories are told. You want to tell stories with passionate people. Whether you like it or not, it’s a long shot but it’s possible. You want to give the actors that are worthy of the job and not the ones that are based on Instagram followers. We borrow from society and give back to society by way of entertainment and pedagogical values.”
Further, he criticized the lack of professional work ethic among filmmakers in Nollywood. He highlighted the absence of a robust system to evaluate the performance and accountability of producers within the industry.
“Professionalism is lacking. Respect for those in charge, humility and the like is lacking today. The industry lacks checks and balances. Every Tom, Dck and Harry can wake up and call themselves a producer and just get on board and be doing stuff without being checked and of course, the guild system is not working so they can’t check. There are no criteria for who should become a producer. The system is also not working. Let’s just be mindful as producers, directors and actors,” he added.
In conclusion, John Njamah acknowledged the unique character of Nollywood. Meanwhile, he proposed the creation of a domestic platform to market and distribute Nigerian films. Consequently, this would reduce reliance on foreign streaming services.
“That thing that they don’t like about us is what makes us, us. I am tired of people saying they don’t want to come into the country for coproduction cos we’re that and that and why are we relying on the likes of the streamers? Why can’t we do something that is for us by us so that they will come to us and ask for these things? We are solely depending on them to licence our movies, for survival. Speaking of coproduction, if you tell me you don’t want to come into the country for any reason, I’ll tell you you’re wrong, cos there are amazing producers here that you’ve seen their work. All you need to do is come to them and agree on modalities.”
Nollywood actress Mercy Aigbe-Adeoti revealed one of the reasons she chose to marry Kazim Adeoti as his second wife.
During her appearance on “Nollywood on Radio”, Mercy Aigbe explained that her husband’s deep experience and dedication to Nollywood significantly influenced her decision.
Emphasizing that their marriage goes beyond a personal connection, she mentioned it also aligns with their shared professional ambitions.
She said of their shared ambitions, “That’s one of the reasons why I married him.”
She added, “Together we’re building an empire; we’re building a production empire and I felt like I needed someone like that. It’s a good thing that he’s in the industry so with his strength and my strength combined, the future of the empire is looking good already.”
Social media users slammed the actress after her revelation. Many criticized her decision. They pointedly reminded her about Kazim Adeoti’s first wife, who, according to reports, did not give her consent to their marriage.
A comment read, “Elesin! Empire wey he don already build with his first wife.”
“Mercy, you know that you betrayed this woman. If you and the first wife didn’t know each other, it is a different thing since she is a Muslim, but you are someone who can not be trusted,” another person said.
Mercy’s marriage to Kazim Adeoti sparked controversy from the very beginning. Reports claimed that she allegedly came between the filmmaker and his first wife, Funso.
However, Kazim clarified that he and Mercy had been friends and business partners for over ten years. This was before they began dating.
On the other hand, Mercy’s ex-husband, Lanre Gentry, accused her of being friends with Funso throughout that period. Eventually, she married Adeoti in 2022.
In April 2023, the actress surprised her fans on social media. She announced her conversion to Islam just before the start of Ramadan, introducing herself as Hajia Meenah Mercy Adeoti.
