A chic dress code, gorgeous women, real talk and an undeniable buzz? Say less.
Some events are cute. Some are memorable. And then there are the ones where you get home, scroll through your camera roll and think, “Wait… that was actually such a vibe.”
Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga’s Boldly Beautiful Women’s Day High Tea was exactly that.
Held on Sunday, 9 August, the afternoon brought together women for a celebration that was equal parts glam, girl power and genuine connection. The theme? Timeless black and white. The result? A room full of seriously stylish women, stunning décor, live music and an atmosphere that felt like one big women supporting women group chat (IRL).
And yes, the outfits were giving. But the conversations? Even better.
The afternoon featured an inspiring keynote by Dr Anna Mokgokong, followed by a candid panel moderated by Sorisha Naidoo, with Minenhle Dlamini, Jane Linley-Thomas, Crystal Tryon-Smith and Dr Nompumelelo Nkosi-Ntombela.
The women got real about identity, confidence, resilience, success and perhaps the most relatable topic of all, self-doubt.
Because behind the confidence, the career wins and the perfectly polished Instagram moments, we’re all just figuring it out as we go. And hearing women speak honestly about the experiences that shaped them made the conversation feel less like a panel and more like the ultimate “girl, you’re not alone” moment.
Then came Amor Couture, bringing the fashion drama. The black-and-white theme was already serving, but the fashion showcase took it up several notches.
For Fara Hamid, Marketing Manager at Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga, the event was always intended to be about more than simply marking Women’s Day.
“Boldly Beautiful was never meant to be just another Women’s Day event. We wanted women to feel seen, inspired and connected.”
And that feeling was everywhere.
From women meeting for the first time to old friends catching up, there was a warmth in the room that you can’t fake. Women were complimenting each other, sharing stories, making connections and our personal favourite, actually hyping each other up.
But the biggest flex of the day? The celebration gave back.
The event raised R20,000 for Sahara Shelter, supporting its work providing refuge and assistance to abused women and children.
“Raising R20,000 for Sahara Shelter made the day even more special because its impact will continue long after the event itself,” Fara said. “I am incredibly grateful to every guest, speaker, sponsor and partner who believed in what we were trying to create.”
Add generous goodie bags, beauty treats, prizes, coffee, sweet treats and plenty of photo-worthy moments to the mix and frankly, we’re struggling to find anything not to love.
But when we think back on Boldly Beautiful, it won’t be the goodie bags we remember.
It’ll be the women.
The laughter. The conversations. The live music. The outfits. The “OMG, I love your dress” moments. The new connections. The feeling of being in a room where everyone was genuinely rooting for everyone else.
That’s the kind of energy we want more of.
Because women celebrating women will never go out of style.
And this one?
Still. Not. Over. It.
