Cheer up, Cinderella – you shall go to the ball!
There are fairy godmothers at work in East London who, with a flash of fairy dust and twirl of their wands, are making matric dance dress dreams come true for cash-challenged Cinderellas.
Jackie Acton has transformed Hudson Park High School’s dreary walk-in safe into a wardrobe of over 100 gorgeous gowns and a growing selection of glitzy heels that girls can borrow for the big night.
At the East London IDZ, corporate communications head Ayanda Ramncwana has formed Fairy Godmothers United, a group of East London businesswomen active in the beauty industry who dress and groom township matrics into red carpet-ready glamour queens at no cost.
Acton said she was propelled to start a Fairy Godmother Cupboard three years ago after helping a pupil who was sent a matric dance dress from a relative which was too small and could not be altered.
“It was three days before the dance and she was beside herself. She ended up wearing my daughter Amy’s dress and looked stunning,” said Acton, who then heard about other pupils who had not attended the dance because their parents could not afford the expense.
A Facebook call for unwanted matric dresses yielded several gowns and Acton set about de-cluttering the school’s storage closet in which to store them. “When I asked our principal Roy Hewitt about it, he just said ‘make it happen’.”
And she did. When the closet became too cramped, Acton moved her glittering stash into the media centre’s safe, lined a shelf with the growing collection of stilettos and hauled in a full-length cheval mirror from her childhood bedroom.
“We started out helping Hudson girls, but word spread and we have also lent dresses to girls from other city schools. We do it subtly and quietly – no one needs to know where the dress came from.”
Acton, who has colour-coded her rail of gowns, would like to branch out into tuxedos for young men and also needs more bags, shoes and statement necklaces.
“People have been so kind and the Rotary Anns have also come on board and donated 10 stunning bracelets. It is so rewarding to see a girl find the perfect dress.
“One girl looked in the mirror and said ‘I look like a princess’.”
Hudson Park prefect La-Toya Dalasile said some pupils avoided the dance due to financial restraints. “The fairy godmother cupboard is a nice way to cheer people up and make them feel special.”
Ramncwana and her team of fairy godmothers identify promising matrics in township schools and give them celebrity treatment ahead of their matric farewells.
The Fairy Godmothers United first worked their magic last year when Ramncwana was contacted by a Reeston teacher asking if she could borrow a dress for one of her matric pupils. “I wanted to help but I was adamant no child should wear my old dress so I contacted a few women from my network to give her a mini makeover.”
Wendy Hammond, who has a bridal business, bought into the idea “without hesitation”, as did make-up artist Tembela Mancunga, nail technician Sethu Krakra and hair salon owner Thozi Sishuba, while Ramncwana added finishing touches with her jewellery range.
“It is not just about the dresses – it is about showing them that despite the challenges they have faced, they must continue to dream.
“We are counting on them to be part of our network in the future.” — barbarah@dispatch.co.za