Rising Above the External

After he completed his secondary education, he received a bursary to study Fashion Design, Textile and Garment Technology at the North West School of Design. He flourished as a design student and was selected as a finalist for a prestigious design student competition. Being a winner of various fashion design awards confirmed his outstanding talent and his chosen career path.

After studying he was appointed by a clothing manufacturer in Durban, responsible for the design of the woman’s leisure ranges for the Miladys and Mr. Price accounts.

He felt that he had truly found himself and his mission in life. He had a burning passion for fashion and beauty and was living his dream. Whilst working as a designer, he furthered his studies in hairdressing, make-up artistry and nail technology at the Durban Technical Collage. He always had his eye on well-known stylist Terry Scott and was lucky enough to land an apprenticeship with him. This was the start of his very interesting journey as a stylist.

“It was a special time in my life, and I worked diligently on my career. I was on the lookout for that missing piece of the puzzle. I missed the glitz and glamour of the modelling and acting industry. Johannesburg was calling and I was ready to oblige.”

“I look fondly at my years and experiences in the pageantry and gleam over titles I earned, including Mr Gay Pretoria Pride and Mr Mardi Grass and being one of the 12 Heroes for Mr Gay South Africa in 2015. It was only last year that I reached my pinnacle by being crowned the 1st runner up for Mr South Africa 2021 in a journey that has taught me so much humility. I was also a finalist for Opulent’s, Top Model 2022 and appeared on shows including 7de laan, Binnelanders and The Estate. I am extremely excited to see what the future holds for my acting and modelling career.”

“Obviously none of this would have been possible without extensive, active charity work in South Africa. In 2021 helped found an NPO – Love Unconditional Association – or L.U.C.A SA. Along with Danny Doman, Director, Unseen (international award winner 2021) and Alexia Vosloo-de Wit (2015 finalist in Mrs South Africa pageant) we teamed up and assessed the needs of our youth, and L.U.C.A SA was born. It provides our youth with a safe space where they can be authentically and feel comfortable being themselves. We focus on skills development, life coaching, mentorship, and trauma counselling.”

“We firmly believe that love conquers all, and in laying stronger foundations with our youth, we can collectively and unitedly face the problems we as a society face including gender-based violence, abuse against woman and children, bullying and teenage suicide.”

After spending 17 years in the beauty industry, opening salons, styling celebrities, and working on movie sets, Steph finds himself in a new and more challenging corporate phase of his life. Fortunately, his talent is not lost to the beauty industry as he is working for a leading distribution company as a business developer, brand manager and educator. His division manages and provides 25 hair brands and external sales representatives with technical support.

Steph is a self-proclaimed, peoples-person, perfectionist, and creative, who finds keeping the balance between these traits quite effortless. He is passionate about the industry and believes that customer care is the key essential of any business.

“Take care of your clients and their needs in these troubled markets and they will reward you with never-ending loyalty,” is the key to his current success.

Steph would like young people to know that they should believe in themselves – then others will believe in them. If they stay focussed on their goals and personal ability, they would be able to achieve everything their heart desire.

He lives and swears by the famous quote by Nkosi Johnson: “Do all you can, with what you have, in the time you have, in the place that you are.”