Latest news with #NandiMadida
IOL News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Celebrating 55 years of Range Rover: the evolution from royal favourite to luxury global icon
Nandi Madida (left), Bryan Habana, Anele Mdoda, Bohang Moeko and Karen Zoid at the Range Rover 55th anniversary event held in Joburg. Image: Supplied In the rarified air of celebrities, royals and moguls, in the star-studded streets of Hollywood and in manicured estates, it seems that the Range Rover is a constant in their choice of vehicle. I doubt many of them, except perhaps British Royalty, are aware of its illustrious history and the fact that this year sees the 55th anniversary of the iconic luxury Land Rover marque. Many have followed, but when it was first revealed on 17 June 1970, it was the world's first vehicle that combined a proper 4x4 with luxury, comfort and refinement. Stayed true As the times have changed, so has Range Rover, including its vehicle portfolio, but it has stayed true to the ethos first envisioned as a luxury SUV with exceptional all-terrain capability. So too has the design, but it's always been eye-catching, and while beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, I have always maintained that Range Rover is the embodiment of beautiful car design and not one manufacturer makes an SUV that can compare. There aren't many cars that can boast an exhibition as an icon of great industrial design in the Louvre shortly after it was launched or as recently as April, at Milan Design week, with an immersive 'Futurespective' installation which transported visitors on a cinematic journey between two distinct eras bookending its history. But it almost was not to be. For 55 years the Range Rover has been a luxury off-road vehicle. Image: Supplied A very British car Despite misgivings from some senior Land Rover engineers, Spen King, nephew of Land Rover founders Maurice and Spencer Wilks, forged ahead with his idea that 4x4s could and should be far more refined and comfortable than existed back in the late '60s. It was and still is, a very British car with its romantic relationship with their countryside: a rural idyll of stately homes, landed gentry, elegant gardens and graceful vistas. It has influenced British literature, culture and design and has remained a favourite with the British Royal family from the day it was launched. Range Rover returned to The Championships, Wimbledon, this year as the Official Vehicle Partner, bringing together the world's oldest tennis tournament and another British icon. It's not all strawberries and cream, though, and while you're unlikely to see modern Range Rovers slinging around in mud holes or crawling over mountainous goat tracks, it has all the technology and ability to do that. Still capable It has a storied history of tackling tough challenges that include two first-generation Range Rovers travelling from Anchorage, Alaska, to attempt the first north-south crossing of the Americas. They arrived in Tierra del Fuego in Argentina just over six months later, which saw the first crossing of the Darien Gap, a 100-mile stretch of roadless jungle between Panama and Colombia, where the vehicles averaged a mile a day. Other off-road achievements include twice winning the Paris-Dakar rally, crossing the Himalayas from Solihull (the birthplace and home of Land Rover) to Mumbai and the fastest ever crossing of the Empty Quarter – the world's largest sand desert – on the Arabian Peninsula. Range Rover returned to The Championships, Wimbledon, this year as the Official Vehicle Partner. Image: Supplied Innovative They have also been pioneers in technology and innovation. They were the first with four-wheel disc brakes and coil springs (1970), the first SUV with ABS anti-lock brakes (1989), the first SUV with electronic traction control (1992), the first with electronic height-adjustable air suspension (1992) and the first with a lightweight aluminium monocoque chassis (2012) while today's Range Rover Sport SV has the world's first 6D suspension, to reduce roll and enhance ride comfort. This year sees prototype testing of Range Rover Electric, the brand's first fully electric vehicle with more patents expected to be filed than on any other Range Rover. Range It was only in 2005 that the second Range Rover was launched with the Range Rover Sport, entering the market for more performance-oriented SUVs. The third generation saw the light in 2022 and included the flagship SV. In 2011, the Range Rover Evoque introduced a new sporting luxury compact SUV sector. The Velar joined as the fourth member of the Range Rover family in 2017 and won a host of awards, including World's Most Beautiful Car. The Range Rover is as comfortable in the deserts as it is on the red carpet. Image: Supplied Local celebrity event Not to be outdone, South Africa had their own Range Rover soiree at the Land Rover Experience in Lone Hill, Sandton. Selected clients and media were invited to rub shoulders with celebrities and Range Rover representatives in a luxurious atmosphere while eating top-class cuisine and sipping Champagne, craft gin, Pimms cocktails and award-winning wines. Surrounded by the full array of Range Rovers, the skid pan had been converted into a tennis court with umbrellas and tables scattered around for the spectators while watching Bryan Habana, Bohang Moeko, Nandi Madida and Karen Zoid mix it up between the white lines. Anele Mdoda was the MC for the day, and her comments from the umpire chair should secure her a seat at the next tennis Open. The Range Rover has come a long way since its groundbreaking introduction 55 years ago, and it's just as desirable now as it was then. If I won the lotto, I wouldn't tell anyone, but a V8 Big Body Range Rover will be a sign.
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Minnie Dlamini discusses motherhood, divorce and reclaiming her identity on 'The Motherhood Network'
Minnie Dlamini appeared on Nandi Madida's "The Motherhood Network" podcast to discuss motherhood, her public divorce and a chance at love again. Image: Instagram. Media personality and entrepreneur Minnie Dlamini opened up like never before on Nandi Madida's "The Motherhood Network" podcast. The pair, who have been friends for decades, spoke about Dlamini growing up in the spotlight to becoming a mother, navigating a very public divorce and dealing with the online backlash that followed. Reflecting on how her divorce from Quinton Jones in 2022 triggered a wave of public scrutiny that undermined her professional accomplishments, she said: "I got married in 2017 and announced my divorce in 2022 and then all of a sudden my credibility as a professional was questioned. "Almost as if everything I had done before that was non-existent, and everything that I had was because of the person that I married. "That was so disheartening for me because I was Minnie Dlamini before I got married, I'll be Minnie Dlamini long after divorce, but the thing is that, all of a sudden, I was the one who married rich, I was the one who went and married this really successful person. "No, I was the successful person, and people wanted to create this narrative because we cannot, under any circumstances, believe that I created my own business ... I've been incredibly independent since the age of 14." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Dlamini pointed out that society judged her. "Because society cannot accept a successful independent woman, they had to say that I am only successful because I married well. And that broke my heart. It's important for us (women) not to allow society to tarnish the actual success that we have." She expressed her hopes for her son's upbringing, stressing the importance of surrounding him with strong women and instilling values of kindness and respect. "I want my son to be around strong women, want to be with strong women, and I also want him to be a strong man. "I want him to fully embrace his masculinity as much as I want him to be gentle and kind and understand how it is to protect a woman, what it takes to be an advocate for women's rights because he is being raised by me and he needs to know that being around a powerful and strong woman doesn't take away from him being a strong and powerful man ... being brave and powerful has no gender." Dlamini also offered words of encouragement for those who may be navigating similar journeys. Drawing from her mother's wisdom, she shared that "two happy households are much better than one miserable one". For her, divorce, despite being a painful chapter, became an opportunity to rediscover herself. "One thing about divorce, whether the decision is made by you or by your partner, at the end of the day, it's such an opportunity for you to find yourself again ... "I found myself losing a lot of myself in my marriage. I felt like I needed to reduce myself, like I couldn't be fully myself, and I didn't like that because I've always been celebrated for being smart, strong, independent and successful. "What divorce did do was that it gave me the opportunity to find me again and find me in a much better position because I am older, wiser, much more experienced. "Yes, I am a little bit more jaded, but it's an opportunity to find yourself again. I believe the version that is raising my son now is a much better version than I was while I was still married. "I am much happier, I'm so much more committed and determined to being the best version of myself." As she forges a new path, Dlamini remains optimistic about life and love. "I am also in this interesting space of finding my happiness again ... You get another shot at love again, you get another shot at life again, you get another shot at you again. "I don't know if I'll get married again, I don't know if I'll have more kids, I don't know what that looks like, but the option is there, the opportunity is there. It's almost like I've got another shot at life again, of creating the life that I want." Her philosophy of continuous self-improvement to fans is: 'Be better today than you were yesterday, be better tomorrow than you are today'. "That's it, just be better. I want the world to be a better place because I lived," Dlamini ended. Watch the full episode below.
News24
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
How to effortlessly jazz up your style with sneakers
A good sneaker can give you all the comfort and style you need with the least effort. Whether you're all about the label or just in need of a comfortable shoe to go about your day, there's a sneaker type for everyone. Do you enjoy the look of high-top sneakers or prefer to show a little ankle? Tiisetso Molobi, founder of the fashion label Urban Mosadi and Vans ambassador, gives TRUELOVE all the ins and outs of sneaker buying, from shapes to maintenance. High tops or low cuts? Different sneaker cuts work for various needs or outfit choices. An example Tiisetso gives us includes how ankle grazing low cut sneakers work well with straight-cut jeans or trousers. @truelovemagazine Have you ever seen Nandi Madida wearing sneakers? She tells us how she likes to style hers. Nandi hosted the #Bathu Ndofaya shoe collection launch celebrating South Africa's music legends! #NandiMadida #BathuWalkYourJourney ♬ original sound - TRUELOVE She says, 'Highs are great during the winter months but can be seen as seasonal. They pair well with wide-leg pants or jeans. The 'dad' shoe, although it's a low [cut], works with most looks, full-length skirts, trackpants as well as jeans. 'Lows or slim cut sneakers look great with straight cut jeans or pants, particularly the barrel-shaped silhouette slacks. The ankle grazing pants are best when wanting to showcase your choice in socks and sneaker.' Tiisetso's top sneaker picks 1. 'For me, there are three types of shoes I enjoy wearing day to day. First being The Dad Shoe, which is characterised as chunky, comfortable & retro. (New Balance 2002R or 1973's or Asics GT-2160 and Salomon) 2. 'Lows or Slim Sneakers are typically minimalist in design, narrow and utilitarian. (Replica GAT by Maison Margiela, Adidas Samba or Japans, Puma Speedcats or Vans Authentic). 3.'Collectable collab sneakers, this can be contentious or coveted. It truly depends on your personal taste and genuine appreciation for shoes. (Opening Ceremony x Vans Authentics, Cecilie Bahnsen x Asics).' If you're not much of a sneakerhead and prefer to splurge on takkies for workouts, Tiisetso offers some advice on choosing the right shoe for you. 'Advice I would give to a non-sneakerhead who only wears sneakers to work out, would be try a minimalist yet comfortable canvas sneaker that works for your foot shape. For a slimmer feet, sneakers like Speedcats, Japans or Sambas can work. 'For wider feet, sneakers that have a broader toe-box design such as the Vans Authentics will work best. But the Dad Shoe is a safest most stylish option across the board. They come in a plethora of styles and sizes offered by many sneaker brands.' Tiisetso Molobi in her top sneaker picks. Photo: Supplied Maintenance tips Maintaining your shoes all depends on how often you wear them and the style you're going for. Tiisetso explains that some sneakers need to 'patina', which is a natural or artificial wear and tear of a shoe and its exposure to the environment that softens the material, darkens the colour or adds a unique texture to give the shoe a little bit of character. 'The best way to maintain your sneakers will always depend on the frequency of that shoe in your sneaker rotation. Some sneakers need to patina to give them character. So no need to keep them clean, for instance, white and grey Replicas should be left as is.' Tiisetso continues, 'But the general rule is canvas sneakers should be sprayed with fabric protector while new. This should prevent staining. Leather polish works for that skin, and predominantly nubuck or suede fabrics just require a clean hard or medium eraser, when scuffed. The eraser can also work on the rubber of your sneakers.'
News24
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Nandi Madida's love for her natural hair – ‘You are soothed, you are calmer'
Presenter, actor and media personality Nandi Madida reveals a deep appreciation for her hair, the rich African culture that inspires it and the admiration she has for her daughter Nefertiti's love for her natural kinks. Nandi pens a touching tribute to the crown that she and South Africa so adore. 'Just as an African, I'm so inspired by this colourful continent. Not only are we genetically the most diverse continent in the world, we're also the cradle of humankind, so everything kind of started here and you can see it. We're just vibrant. 'Everyone borrows from here but it's all rooted here. And so, I love playing and having fun with my hair. I love also ensuring that, especially particularly young people but people of all ages, understand how powerful our hair is. And I always say one day when I'm no longer on this earth, I hope I did somehow influence some kiddies out there who will be adults by then to just love their hair and how to work around it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nandi_Madida 🇿🇦 (@nandi_madida) 'Hair has been so important to me, not only as a media personality and making a statement with my hair but also just as an African child. We have a very painful past and so something as simple as hair has been ostracised for so long where people felt less than because of their hair. 'And so, I was very lucky that I came from a family and read the likes of Steve Biko, who were so invested in ensuring that we were enlightened as a people and understood what the system was trying to do by breaking us down and instead build us up. And so, I'm always intentional about building us up. 'My daughter has the most gorgeous hair and this big 'fro, and she does all these beautiful hairstyles and she loves it! She just loves her kinks. She doesn't have any FOMO and that's so much progress whereas we would put chemicals on our head wanting to look like a blonde barbie, so just to see how there's been so much progress. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nandi_Madida 🇿🇦 (@nandi_madida) 'I would first apologise to my hair and say for putting you through chemicals where to the point that you got really burnt and permanently damage your skull. So, I'm sorry for that and though you were very young and weren't aware and no one was aware what was happening. May you heal and, from that, I've intentionally ensured that you're healed, that you are comforted, that you feel soothed. 'You are soothed, you are calmer. You're growing, you love your kinks. You can just be for who you are and enjoy your crown.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nandi_Madida 🇿🇦 (@nandi_madida)
News24
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Nandi Madida creates safe haven for women on The Motherhood Network podcast
Motherhood is no walk in the park. Every stage of it brings different challenges and struggles just as it brings out-of-this-world joy. Many women wear the title with pride while others even draw strength from it. One best known to slay motherhood is media personality and mother of two, Nandi Madida. To her, motherhood is 'humanity'. 'It's knowing that you have a contribution to create what hopefully will be incredibly human beings in this earth and that responsibility is an honour. We really hold humanity, we give birth to humanity, it's everything.' Contrary to what's dominating in the public domain currently, Nandi has always wanted to be a mother. 'I loved journaling growing up and I recently found the journal I used when I was in grade 11, 21 years ago. I was going through it with my husband, and it was so funny because I came across a part where I said I'd like to have a son called Shaka.' She chuckles as she tells Drum that years later, like Queen Nandi of the Zulu kingdom, she has a Shaka who's almost nine years old, just as she manifested it. With both her pregnancy with Shaka and Nefertiti, she admits that her life has changed for the better. Although they both came as surprises, she was ecstatic about carrying her blessings. Reminiscing on her pregnancy with Nefertiti, she shares with Drum how she was in the bathroom in her old house when her husband, Zakes Bantwini gave her the biggest hug and told her how he wishes it would be a girl so that they wrap up the package of blessings. Her biggest challenges on her motherhood journey have included digging deep within herself to work on her emotional intelligence while trying as much as possible to keep the romantic spark alive with her spouse, especially in the early stages, just after birth. 'After finding that rhythm, you feel like a winner. From a medical perspective, there's having to seek advice when you realise that you have a child who has a different way of thinking and doing things. I wouldn't say it's a challenge, but it is more of an awakening,' she adds. Having been someone who's lived with ADHD, she's learned a lot about neurodivergence and was more than happy to take on the task of mothering children living with autism and ADHD. 'I've always been transparent about my daughter mainly because I also wanted to normalise it. You'd be shocked to learn that a lot of people are undiagnosed neurodivergent. There's a whole world of people who haven't been diagnosed and there's a whole lot of diagnoses now with more information at their disposal. Me opening up, unintentionally made a lot of other parents comfortable with opening up about their journeys.' That brought a sense of comfort as she became a haven and sounding board for a lot of parents out there. Despite being the one leading the conversation about her children's conditions, there's nothing she wants more than for both of them to own their stories one day and tell them to inspire people. Through it all, her own mother, Thandeka Mngoma poured into her cup. 'She has naturally been a key figure in my life and I'm forever grateful for that. I love how honest she was about both the negative and positive sides of motherhood. She always provided a space for us to have uncomfortable conversations, and I really appreciated that.' It is from this that she saw it befitting to launch a podcast focused on motherhood, titled The Motherhood Network which premiered on Mother's Day, 11 May with media mogul, Basetsana Kumalo joining her as the first guest. 'It's long overdue from my side. I was interested in launching something during covid, but I felt like I hadn't been a mother long enough. I just wanted to experience longer and have a sense of comfort in being able to impart knowledge from not only my experiences but also other people's experiences, in a more mature, motherly perspective. 'As much as we're celebrating mothers, we'll also speak about the reality that comes with having triggers like not having a mother who was healthy for them, who was there for them, so we speak about the mother wound as well. I'm passionate about that as much as I am about celebrating incredible mothers who've been able to inspire the next generation as well,' she adds. Dr. Judy Dlamini, Chancellor of Wits University and author and Dr. Nellie Balfour, one of South Africa's leading paediatricians are some of the guests that will be coming up on the podcast as people embrace the navigation of motherhood on the podcast.
