Latest news with #SFW
SowetanLIVE
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- SowetanLIVE
Monkey Shoulder kicks off career-making contest for fashion rebels
This May, Monkey Shoulder swapped barrels for boldness as the official pouring partner for Soweto Fashion Week (SFW) Autumn/Winter 2025 — and true to form, the premium whisky brand didn't just pour; it performed. Think cocktails with character, streetwear with swagger, and a stylish new showdown that turned heads and timelines. Hosted over four days at the iconic Soweto Theatre, SFW showcased the sartorial skills of 35 emerging and established local designers as they presented their latest collections. In the Monkey Shoulder VIP lounge, whisky wasn't the only thing served. The space came alive with a bold mural by 2024 Brushstroke Battle winner George Mars, curated to reflect the SFW theme, 'Uncharted Creativity', with a riot of colour and cultural influences. It quickly became the go-to content spot for stylists, influencers and industry insiders.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Admin Investigating Why IRS Nominee's X Account Followed Sexual Content
Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Internal Revenue Service, Billy Long, is famous for mixing it up on the social media platform X, previously Twitter. Representing Missouri in the House, Long once earned the title of Congress' most prolific tweeter. A Rolling Stone audit of Long's social media diet on X — in particular the publicly listed selection of accounts recently followed by his account — has uncovered a pattern of following sexual and 'Not Safe For Work' content. A senior Trump transition official blamed this activity on 'unauthorized' account access, insisting that Long would never have followed these accounts of his own accord. Long, 69, is a controversial pick to lead an agency that Trump has demanded target his ideological foes. Long's nomination has been dogged by his past promotion of a tax-avoidance scheme, and because he has touted a 'dubious' credential as a tax professional. Senators have also raised questions about a flood of contributions from corporate interests that paid off Long's lingering campaign debt, received following his nomination. Long is scheduled for a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday. Long seeks to join the Trump administration at a moment when the conservative political movement is in the throes of a pornography panic. A GOP bill in the Senate seeks to make porn illegal. Project 2025 — the arch conservative policy playbook now broadly being implemented by the Trump administration — calls for porn creators and purveyors to be incarcerated. As IRS commissioner, Long would also be responsible for safeguarding the information of hundreds of millions of Americans. Billy Long has been tweeting since 2009. His current screen name identifies him as 'Congressman Billy Long.' The platform does not show all of the accounts that a user follows, rather a selection of the 50 most-recently followed accounts. The publicly visible list of accounts Long has followed includes many politically canny choices, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, EPA honcho Lee Zeldin, as well as the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. But Long's account has also recently followed many purveyors of adult-themed content. Some post content that is mildly sexually provocative. Other accounts post porn. The former congressman campaigned as a staunch 'pro-life' candidate. The recent following activity on Long's account points to broader interest in pregnant women. One eye-catching account recently followed by Long's account goes by the handle 'Pregnant Redhead.' This is not a porn account; quite the opposite. The creator produces content in the genre known as 'trad wife,' which celebrates pastoral stereotypes of strong men and passive women, and posts images with SFW allure. 'I wear a ribbon because I am my husband's gift,' Pregnant Redhead writes in one post picturing her on a boat in a pond. The account also posts memes of women in head-scarves and dresses, with captions like: 'You don't have to dress half naked to be beautiful.' It's not entirely surprising that a politician like Long might publicly follow a trad wife account, given the genre's resonance in right-wing culture. However, other accounts followed by Long's account post unabashedly sexual content, including of pregnant women. These X accounts might be described as stealth porn. Nothing in the handle or the profile picture identifies the account as NSFW. But the posts are dominated by sexual images of women. One of these accounts has only a single piece of content — a 'repost' of an adult creator who lists her age as 26 and describes herself as a 'big booty milf.' (MILF is an acronym for a popular porn category involving mothers.) The post caption reads 'I fuck back,' and it features a video loop of the adult creator, filmed naked from behind, riding a dildo. Another account followed by Long's account has posted multiple images and gifs of adult content creators who are with child. These include teasing, clothed, video loops of an Only Fans creator named Erika who encourages viewers to 'Check out all my exclusive pregnancy content.' The same X account has also posted a naked image of another pregnant creator, who advertises herself as a '42YR OLD NATURAL MILKY MILF!' A third account followed by Long's X account has only two posts, including a repost of a provocative image from an account with the handle 'SpicyMoms2.' Yet another account that Long's account recently followed features a 'pinned' picture of a shirtless man unzipping his female companion's top and a caption reading 'THIRST.' The image is overlaid with a poem: 'I yearn to make love to you hard and deep, invade the delicate folds of your wondrous need until you blossom all over my lips, tongue and fingertips.' This account also posts many pictures of women in high heels and lingerie. In response to questions from Rolling Stone, a Trump senior transition official insisted that the sexual content followed by Long's account was the result of a hack. 'This is absolute bullshit and not something the congressman would ever do,' the official said. 'Clearly there has been unauthorized access to the account in the 11th hour before his hearing, and we are currently investigating the matter, including reporting it to X.' (Trump benefactor Elon Musk owns X.) Long follows more than 8,000 accounts on Twitter. It is unclear whether the recent adult-oriented follows are in keeping with past practice. Rolling Stone requested access to the complete list of the accounts that Long follows. The Trump official declined to make that available. Subsequent to Rolling Stone questioning, Long's account appears to have unfollowed Pregnant Redhead and other sexually themed accounts. Long's account also recently followed a set of accounts that are interesting only because of whom these users follow — namely lots of adult content creators. One such account has a single, banal post from 2017. But the user's following list is predominated by adult creators. A second account in this vein features a single selfie post, and a following list filled with adult material. A third account also follows this pattern. Long is seeking a position of enormous prestige and power, and also represents a Republican Party whose culture war has put porn in the crosshairs. Long's former congressional colleague Sen. Mike Lee recently introduced a bill to outlaw pornography. Project 2025, the conservative policy playbook for the Trump presidency, insists that porn is not protected by the First Amendment and that 'its purveyors are… misogynistic exploiters of women.' It calls adult entertainment 'as addictive as any illicit drug' and 'as psychologically destructive as any crime,' and demands its creators and distributors be jailed and for the platforms 'that facilitate its spread' to be shut down. The IRS, the agency that Long seeks to run, has previously been marred by controversy over IRS employees who looked at adult content on work computers. The IRS also must enforce tax laws on adult performers, who have unique tax situations, and have been implicated in complex tax dodges. It is somewhat difficult to establish Long's personal or political views on pornography. In part, that's because Google searches surface adult films — made by a completely unrelated male, same-sex creator who uses 'Billy Long' as his nom de porn. More from Rolling Stone Kid Rock Distances Himself From His Own Bar After Reported Nashville Ice Raids Republicans Are Making Their Politically 'Suicidal' Medicaid Cuts Even Worse Trump Is Giving Millions in Taxpayer Money to Family of Rioter Killed on Jan. 6 Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
IOL News
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Soweto Fashion Week 2025: A showcase of uncharted creativity and resilience
The 14th edition of Soweto Fashion Week (SFW) concluded its highly anticipated Autumn/Winter 2025 showcase, reaffirming its status as a beacon of South African creativity, resilience, and innovation. Hosted at the iconic Soweto Theatre from May 7 to May 10, the event brought together over 30 designers-both emerging and established, who captivated audiences with collections that seamlessly blended contemporary trends with rich traditional influences. This season's theme, 'Uncharted Creativity,' invited designers to push boundaries and share heartfelt stories through fashion. SFW continues to serve as a vital platform for nurturing local talent and fostering the growth of the South African fashion industry. 'Each season, Soweto Fashion Week strives to provide a vital platform for local designers to showcase their talent and connect with a broader audience. We are committed to fostering growth within the South African fashion industry. Every year, we look forward to presenting collections that are both inspiring and forward-thinking,' said Stephen Manzini, Founder of Soweto Fashion Week. Designer Ayanda Nhlapo made her debut at SA Fashion Week this year under her label, House of Ayanda. Reflecting on the milestone, Nhlapo said the experience marked a powerful new chapter in her journey — one she plans to take global as she sets her sights on expanding her international footprint. 'House of Ayanda is focused on expanding its international presence through cultural collaborations, capsule collections, and digital showcases that highlight African heritage with a modern perspective. Ayanda's style is minimalist with bold Afro-modern touches, while the brand itself embraces expressive, maximalist storytelling through luxurious textures and layered cultural references. 'Future aspirations include establishing House of Ayanda as a heritage brand that reinvents African luxury, opening an atelier and creative residency for emerging designers, and contributing to fashion education.' She said. Renowned designer Sun Goddess described Soweto Fashion Week as more than just a runway event. 'Soweto Fashion Week is more than a showcase- it's a movement and a statement. This event reminds us that South African fashion is not only vibrant but also deeply rooted in our collective spirit. As a brand that hit its 24-year mark this year, I am proud to share pearls of wisdom I've learnt over the years through fashion at the SFW, inspiring the next generation as our way of giving back. I am deeply inspired by the resilience and ingenuity of local talent." The week-long event featured dynamic runway shows, networking opportunities, and creative collaborations, including partnerships with local brands that highlighted the intersection of fashion, culture, and identity. With over 80 models gracing the runway, SFW once again demonstrated its commitment to inclusivity and development, having supported more than 120 designers and 1,000 models since its inception in 2011. 'To support and improve South Africa's fashion industry, there is a need for greater investment in infrastructure, mentorship, and market access, along with stronger connections between fashion, education, and the economy, and a renewed emphasis on preserving and modernising indigenous design knowledge,' Manzini concluded As SFW continues to champion local craftsmanship and design excellence, the Autumn/Winter 2025 showcase stands as a testament to the enduring creativity and resilience of South Africa's fashion community. The Star
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Soweto Fashion Week cultivates next wave of trailblazers with autumn/winter 2025 showcase
SFW founder Steph Manzini said their focus on building the local fashion industry differentiates it from other fashion weeks in the country. The Soweto Fashion Week autumn/winter showcase is expected to showcase 30-35 designers and with 80 models anticipated to walk the runway. Picture: Supplied The importance of grassroots and development is often mentioned in sport. Yet development is vital in most, if not all, industries. In fashion, for someone to reach the level of gracing platforms such as the Met Gala or the Paris Fashion Week, one has to start somewhere. Now in its 14th edition, the Soweto Fashion Week (SFW) is one of the vital platforms for the development of the fashion industry, particularly because it's hosted in a township, making it accessible. SFW founder Steph Manzini said their focus on building the local fashion industry differentiates it from other fashion weeks in the country. 'Building the local fashion industry, working with higher institutions at the grassroots level. It's important to keep our local brands relevant in the market,' Manzini told The Citizen. The SFW's autumn/winter 2025 showcase starts at the Soweto Theatre on Wednesday, 7 May, and will run until Saturday, 10 May. ALSO READ: 'We haven't even scratched the surface' – Soweto Fashion Week founder on 13 years of consistency [VIDEO] Autumn/winter showcase Established in 2011, the SFW has assisted more than 120 designers and 1000 runway models on the African continent, catapulting their businesses and support for 13 years. For this autumn/winter showcase, Manzini said they are scheduled to showcase 30-35 designers, and 80 models are anticipated to walk the runway. 'Each season, Soweto Fashion Week strives to provide a vital platform for local designers to showcase their talent and connect with a broader audience. We are committed to fostering growth within the South African fashion industry. Every year, we look forward to presenting collections that are both inspiring and forward-thinking,' Manzini said. The autumn/winter 2025 collections are expected to blend contemporary styles with traditional influences, highlighting the unique spirit and creativity synonymous with Soweto. ALSO READ: WATCH: Russian designers captivate audience at the Soweto Fashion Week 'The show goes on' Speaking to The Citizen just hours before day one of the SFW, Manzini said the preparations were stressful yet fun. This year's edition sees new sponsors partner with the SFW, which was previously known as the 'Sta-Sof-Fro SFW'—this was as recently as November last year, when the SFW hosted the Spring/Summer showcase. 'Different setup and new sponsors. The conversations are different, hence stress levels go a bit higher but it's fun and worth it,' shared Manzini. New partners of the SFW are haircare brand Creme of Nature and whisky brand Monkey Shoulder. 'We've had a change of sponsors. At times, sponsorships have a short span, a collaboration that was fitting at the time; however, the show goes on,' Manzini said. NOW READ: South Africans make their presence felt at the Met Gala in New York
