Scelo Ntuli, Maritza Veer crowned Samsung Mobile Ic^one Mod'ele

Saturday 23 August saw the announcement of Scelo Ntuli and Maritza Veer as the winners of the Samsung Mobile Ic^one Mod'ele competition at Taboo, in Sandton. At a high-fashion event that set the tone for a much anticipated Summer Collection being showcased at Sanlam South African Fashion Week 2008, one guy and one girl were selected by a panel of expert judges to represent the Samsung Mobile brand for a minimum of one year. Added to that, Ntuli and Veer will open Sanlam South African Fashion Week, which runs from Wednesday 27 to Saturday 30 August at the Sandton Convention Centre.

After they have magnetised crowds at the best local fashion shows Jozi has to offer, they will be featured in select Samsung Mobile above- and below-the-line campaigns and will then jet off to New York to take up their contracts at internationally acclaimed model agency, Next. Both Ntuli and Veer have won $75 000 contracts with Next, which has been instrumental in the careers of models such as Molly Simms, Tanya Fourie and Petra Nemkova.

The Samsung Mobile Ic^one Mod'ele competition is the brainchild of Sanlam South African Fashion Week and Samsung Mobile's marketing team. Marina Hartmann of Samsung says: "Samsung Mobile has established itself as a brand that fuses fashion, art and technology to create a seamless accessory that complements your lifestyle," explains Hartmann, "Partnering with Sanlam South African Fashion Week is a natural fit for us as our mobile phones are positioned as fashion-forward and technologically savvy."

When asked about the results of the competition, Hartmann says: "We are very pleased with what we have achieved, both in the quality of model-hopefuls we have in South Africa and with regards to the awareness level we have accomplished for the brand. We look forward to working with Scelo and Maritza in our above- and below-the-line media in the next year and are proud to be an integral part of the commencement of their modelling careers going forward."

The competition launched in March this year, securing entries from girl and guy model hopefuls nationwide. Sixty-four semi-finalists were selected to present themselves before a celebrity panel of judges at a fashion show event during May this year. From this, Ntuli and Veer were selected, and the announcement was made on Saturday night. Models were styled by Jacques van der Watt of Black Coffee, and the event was hosted by MC Gareth Cliff.

When asked about the brand aims for the competition, Hartman says: "The Samsung Mobile Ic^one Mod'ele competition is designed to guarantee the best possible start to the beginnings of two modelling careers by putting a business plan in place to ensure that these models will have a local, international and corporate platform from which to launch. Unlike many other local competitions, we have worked hard to ensure that our winners stand the best possible chance in taking their careers forward in all possible avenues for success. We are looking forward to watching them take on international and local modelling experiences with pride in the quality of model that South Africa is producing."

Hartmann also stated that Samsung Mobile is looking forward to establishing the competition as an annual event in partnership with Sanlam South African Fashion Week. "The event has certainly generated the market intimacy we hoped it would serve in establishing. Partnering with Sanlam South African Fashion Week has linked the brand inextricably with a hallmark event in the South African social calendar as well as its status as the leading fashion event of the year."

Veer is overwhelmed at being selected as the female winner. She can't wait to get started and Ntuli has already set his sights on New York. "This opportunity is the highlight of my career," says Ntuli, who has already appeared on the catwalks of Durban Fashion Week. "I am looking forward to expanding my horizons through modelling." Veer says that through Samsung, she is looking forward to firmly establishing a career in modelling, which has been an ambition of hers for many years. With a Samsung sponsored business plan in place, it is doubtless that both model's ambitions will be realised.

For more information and pics of the finalists, go to www.nextsamsungmodel.com.