FOA Top 12 hit Swahili fashion week as the final beckons

The 12 M-Net Face of Africa semi-finalists came through their first professional test last week as they impressed the editorial team of Dossier magazine on their first fashion editorial. But, in a unexpected turn of events, Blessing saw her chance to share the screen with fellow Nigerian D’Banj in his new music video fall by the wayside as she was dropped from the shoot after making unfavourable comments about the hip hop star.

This week (Saturday 16 January, 19:00 CAT on M-Net), the pressure is on as the Face of Africa finalists head to Dar es Salaam to participate in Swahili Fashion Week – but this is to be no easy ride as they have to compete with working models from across the continent in castings and they must impress different designers.

To add to the drama, tensions between the models are rising ahead of the naming of the TOP 10 finalists who will participate in the Final and a misunderstanding lands one of the finalists in bandages.

In this week’s episode, viewers get to see what goes on behind the scenes at a fashion show casting as the models are put through their paces by busy designers intent on showing off their clothing to potential buyers by using only the best models – will our finalists make the grade?

Just three Face of Africa models make it into the Khadija Mwanamboka show while illness keeps one away from a casting with Kemi Kalikawe who chooses all the remaining 11 Face of Africa models for her show. Then, there’s the dramatic moment for one disappointed model who’s left out of the show for David Tlale who chooses all the other Face of Africa models for his show, except her! Meanwhile this week viewers also get a chance to learn a bit more about the finalists this week as Tholakele, Blessing and Diana take the Face of Africa cameras home with them to Zimbabwe, South Africa – an adopted home for Blessing - and Kenya to give a little insight into where they come from.

With clear favourites emerging with the designers at Swahili Fashion Week as the same models are chosen again and again for prominent spots in prestigious runway shows, will the rest of the Top 12 be able to raise their game, knowing that just 10 places are up for grabs at the Final?

The M-Net Face of Africa 2010 is guaranteed to walk away from the Final in Lagos on 6 February with a modeling contract from O Model Africa, USD 50 000 in cash from M-Net, skincare products for 12 months from IMAN Cosmetics and a trip to New York, courtesy of Arise Magazine, to participate in New York Fashion Week. It’s the ultimate career kick-start for any young model – but which one of the M-Net Face of Africa finalists has what it takes to rule international catwalks? Don’t miss M-Net’s Face of Africa, every Saturday, at 5pm only on M-Net.