Despite being known for nailing her iconic villain role on Gomora as Sonto, Connie Chiume also nailed her role in the fashion industry as she supported South African designers while making sure she always stole the show with her outstanding red carpet looks, dubbing her a fashionista.
Since the announcement of her passing, tributes from colleagues, fans, and the general public continue pouring in. Honouring someone who has passed away varies across cultures and individuals including personal tributes, memorial services, traditions, and more.
Award-winning actress and fashion designer, Enhle Mbali, made sure to hounour Chiume in a memorable way with a dress designed by her fashion brand, Essie Apparel. Enhle attended the Basadi in Music Awards (BIMAs) where she honoured Chiume by wearing a beautiful pink tiered dress, which was initially designed for the veteran actress. Taking to Instagram in a heartfelt post, Enhle shared that despite the dress being made for Chiume, they decided to save the dress for a lifetime achievement award and opted for something more simple. Enhle continued sharing that after learning about Chiume’s passing, she decided to wear the dress to the BIMAs as a reminder to herself of how fabulous the legendary actress was.
The tiered dress is not Essie Apparel’s first rodeo with Chiume, as the fashion brand has dressed her in a hot pink ensemble for the Cultural and Creative Industry Awards 2024 (CCIA). Since the debut of Essie Apparel at SA Fashion Week 2020, Enhle has won her first international award for Best Designer Collection at the Fashion Community Week, in San Francisco, US.
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