Somerset West resident Elle Franco has been named one of three national winners at the 2025 Brights Women in DIY Excellence Awards, cementing her position as one of South Africa’s leading DIY educators.
Franco, who has built a substantial following through her DIY with Elle platform, television presenting on Home Made Easy, and monthly Garden & Home Magazine features, was selected from an exceptional field of entries nationwide.
The annual awards, presented by Brights Hardware, celebrate women transforming the country’s DIY landscape through creativity, skill, community impact and innovation. Franco’s victory recognises her decade-long commitment to making home improvement accessible to beginners.
From Johannesburg flat to Somerset West success
Franco’s journey began more than ten years ago, crafting pallet furniture in her small Johannesburg apartment. After settling in Somerset West, her “you can do this too” philosophy has helped thousands tackle projects ranging from simple décor updates to ambitious builds including pergolas, fencing and shelving.
As Garden & Home Magazine’s DIY content contributor, Franco provides monthly step-by-step guidance designed to make home improvement achievable for novices. Her approachable style has established her as one of South Africa’s most trusted DIY voices.
The judging panel particularly noted Franco’s role in opening a traditionally male-dominated field, with her core belief that “DIY is for everyone” encouraging people across age groups and backgrounds to embrace hands-on creativity.
National recognition brings local pride
Brights Hardware CEO Orlando Luis praised this year’s exceptional standard, noting that women like Franco “continue to raise the bar for creativity in South Africa”.
Each winner receives a R5 000 Brights voucher and R5 000 product hamper to support future projects.
Franco shares the honour with Nkosazana Mtshazi from Johannesburg, known as “DIY Princess Nkosazana” for her sustainable, family-friendly content, and Ndandu Khavhadi from Port Elizabeth, the “Just a Mom with a Drill” creator who combines DIY with humanitarian work.
The trio represents a growing wave of female creators reshaping South African DIY culture, proving that creativity thrives when shared within communities.
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