Meet Thando Hopa, a 23 year old lady with albinism, who will be strutting her stuff at Gert-Johan Coetzee’s first SA Fashion Week show in two years. Hot as she is, Thando is not a model, she is actually a prosecutor who works for the NPA and her meeting with Gert kinda went like the stuff you usually read about when celebrities talk about being #Spotted. Thando was spotted in a mall, while out shopping, sometime in July.
“Thando is so striking and she has remarkable poise – she can literally stop traffic. That’s how I experienced her when she walked past me in the mall,” says Coetzee. “I just had to meet her.” After he introduced himself and the two had a conversation, Coetzee was convinced he wanted Thando involved in his new collection. “I am obsessed with colour and besides being really beautiful, Thando is the exact opposite of colour… visually she personifies the infinite possibilities of a blank canvas. The creative tension that causes is just so exciting!”
About Thando:
She was born with albinism, a rare genetic condition that leads to a complete or partial lack of pigmentation in the skin, eyes and hair. It is caused by a recessive gene that both parents have to carry for a child to be born with the condition. Persons With Albinism (PWAs) are vulnerable to sun exposure and most of them are in some way visually impaired, but otherwise they lead perfectly normal lives. Black PWAs with their white hair, pale eyes and fair skin naturally stand out much more than their Caucasian counterparts do and this often leads to bullying or teasing. Thando’s parents don’t have albinism, but two of their four children do.
“My parents raised my younger brother and I as if there was no difference between us and all the other kids in the neighbourhood, and for that I am very grateful. As a child I never had a role model who looked like me, so that is partly why I am interested in Gert-‐Johan’s project. If one little girl out there looks at me and sees a world of opportunities for herself this would have been worth it.”
Thando admits that one has to be strong to keep one’s head high and that even though she now loves being different, it was hard growing up with albinism.
“I was horrified to learn that PWAs have been cruelly persecuted in certain parts of Africa – especially in Tanzania where many of them have been killed in muti murders. I feel honoured that I can play a part in the education process that may help to dispel some of the prejudice and superstition that people with albinism face.”
Well done to Gert on spotting Thando, we can’t wait to see her on the runway!
Damn this post could have had more than 300 comments on main site, ms Boyana kante watagwaan,
Well done to both Gert and Thando!
Nkele, not even on the main site do we have 300 comments after 15 minutes.
hahahahahahah!! Good one BS!
Oh man things that make my heart smile, sometimes being different is a blessing. Beauty comes in different forms and models always fascinate me with their rare looks. If it’s not their long necks, defined cheek bones it’s their skin tone! All the best Thando.
Oh Wow! She’s so beautiful, I dont know why but the first picture made me think of Zizo Beda
Andile from Khumbu and Lebo Mashile would die for that hair.
Thandis is HOT.Wish her luck le Gert wa hae.
kanti how does one post a comment here, ive been trying for 3days im tired now
True that eyh2jee…they would kill for her hair!
Puleng, it must be the pose….something about that pic screams Zizo Beda
I love this hey and Thando is so gorgeous. It’ll def go a long way in curbing stereotypes…*side eyes FanaThePurp*
Wow u go girl, happy for u
bt pwa hav the best hair colour ever… The way it glows is jst magical. All the best to miss Thando
Mhle uThando
lol @Nokuthula your coment came through just when you were about to giveup.
reare beauty
Wow! Wat n inspiring story. This wil surely make people look difrently at PWA’s. She is trully gorgeous! A rare dime
I was never really a Gert fan but after this I definetely am!
Thando is gorgeous…Love her already and I’m seeing international success for both her and Gert and in the not so far future.
It sure feels good to be able to comment:-)
She is absolutely gorgeous, wow.
Thanks to Gert for showing us such beauty and giving other PWA’s a role model and someone that’s not afraid of her unique yet beautiful features.
Congratulations Sisi 🙂
P.S. Hottt body
I am sh*t scared of albino’s, had a classmate at primary my goodness.
Blindfold, why are you scared of ’em? *curious*
Shes gorgeous! I also love their hurrrr!
Lol Blindfold
She is gorgeous. Her body is flippen HOT!
Well done Gert,
she is pretty, way to go Gert.
beautiful girl, but the article was way too short. I am waiting for 9am for the competition…tick tock
What competition True-Self?
Wow, Gert is sure to get a lot more fans through this move, I hope it was not strategic, and that he really did see something in Thando because she is very beautiful.
Its a weekend away with a partner to Tsongo sun hotel, they tweeted it yesterday saying at 9am. BS also mentioned it on anything goes. I want it want it!!!!!
She’s gorgeous. Looks like Albino’s are the new black. The new face of Legit is also an Albino. Fana wrote a blog about wanting to bed an albino. Its the season of the Albino’s.
Its good though, that they’re finally being embraced on a wider platform. Kudo’s to Gert, Thando is beautiful.
im also scared of albinos, have been since a very young age. its a fear i have try to overcome but kunzima hey. i have albino relatives but still hey. im seeing a shrink for my paranoia, fear of albinos n fear of death
wow truly beautiful gal
zenzy wats ur email ad, wana follow u on instagram,
I saw a gay albino on Saturday.
There’s this albino gal here at work, that gal is hot for days. She also has a thick banging body, think Minnie Dlamini and she knows that she’s hot.
karabo.ditsele@gmail.com mapaseka
She’s got a hot body hey!
@those who say they are scared, what exactly is it that you’re scared of?…Thando is indeed beautiful, with brains too, I like!
zenzy uv got mail
WOW!!
I love it. She is gorgeous and challenging every stereotype there is out there. You go girl!
She is beautiful! and brainy! and her body looks hot too ka nnete. Well done to her and Gert in this monumental action. she must enter miss SA if age permits and all of that- who am i kidding- those ppl dnt even want bald or natural hair contestants.
I’m proud of u resiepooh, love u and keep at it represent GIRL….
I’m proud of u resiepooh, love u and keep at it represent GIRL….that’s my girl Woop Woop
Wow I’ve never met or spoken to an albino person! In my 20 something years of life!!! *such a shame*
@ zenzybear if you have a fear for albino’s – do have a fear for umlungu? i really dont see a difference between albinos and blond white people..i used to have a fear for snakes; no more now..my curiosity about snakes made me realise that they are just harmless animals, that only react because they are scared too. Thuli indutsu yakho inoba ivulekile ke mos..
Hawu sqeda how is that possible becwele kangaka
@bongi, yes actually i am scared of white people with red hair and freckles, people with false teeth, the list goes on. what is ‘indutsu’?
Kwaaaa! Zenzy uthi u are scared of red heads and people with false teeth?! Haaa haaaaa haaaaa!
This lady has a banging body indeed! Those curves! I don’t have a prob with albinos and come to think of it, I personally don’t know anyone who is..
*sets smatsatsa gravi as backround*…
@bhubesi…i’ve seen some on the street….ngithi nje talking to one…interacting nje in some way bathong…thats the experience i havent had…kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii…not funny kodwa
I wonder which artist tbotouch is bringing next to the country, he’s going on and on about it on twitter. Its not Justin bieber, not Rihanna.
wow!!!!!!!!!!!dope
From highschool and varsity-i know this-she has been nothing short of a force like no other
-koki