Ndara to fly SA design flag high at International Emmys

Award-winning actress and Metro FM newsreader Vatiswa Ndara will be showcasing South Africa's top clothing and jewellery designers to the world at the 36th International Emmy Awards on Monday.

Ndara, who had the honour of being selected as one of the international jurors for the Emmys, jetted out to New York this week.

The popular television and radio personality is being dressed by designers David Tlale and JJ Schoeman whose creations are sure to create a stir at the prestigious black-tie gala event to be held on Monday, November 24, 2008, in New York City. Dr Precious Moloi Motsepe's African Fashion International facilitated the designer sponsorship.

In addition, Ndara will be adorned by exquisite items of jewellery crafted by local designer Isaac Molefe, who is as renowned for his job creation and poverty alleviation projects as he is for the brilliance of his designs. His work has already been in the international spotlight - at the 2006 Oscars, Tsotsi actress Terry Pheto wore a neckpiece designed and manufactured at one of his jewellery schools.

The International Emmy Awards is the international version of the Emmys, and is presented annually by the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to recognise excellence in television programmes produced outside the United States.

Ndara won a South African Film and Television Award for the series Home Affairs, which has been nominated in the Best Drama category for the third year running. She was chosen to adjudicate the category Best Performance by an Actress, which is being contested by Lucy Cohu in Forgiven (UK), Sofie Gråbøl in The Killing (Denmark), Irene Ravache in Eternal Magic (Brazil) and Yuan Zhibo in Wait for the Birth of the Husband (China).

All jurors have been invited to attend Monday's prestigious black-tie event as well as the International Emmy World Television Festival on Saturday and Sunday, November 22 and 23.