Models from Mitchells Plain have produced winners two years in a row at a prestigious competition.

Jade van Heerden, originally from the Northern Cape but now based in Mitchells Plain, was crowned among the winners of this year’s Look In Lens 2026 Feature Models at the inaugural LIL Runway Elite Fashion Show.

Held at the Rooftop on Bree, she shared the stage with fellow winners Mikhail Manasse from Hanover Park and Duwayne Lombaardt from Eerste River as the evening’s top three.

It was the second consecutive year that Mitchells Plain had produced a winner. In 2025, K-Ci Delacruz, from Portland, was named one of Look In Lens’s first-ever Feature Models alongside Tyrone Clayton from Ottery.

A community finding its voice on the runway

For Delacruz, now 23, the journey began during the 2020 lockdown, when she picked up an interest in being in front of the camera.

That same year, a local agency, which is now defunct, Kenji Productions CPT, opened in Portland. Through a friend already signed with them, she got her chance, and has been modelling for six years since.

Delacruz said the win opened doors for her in the industry.

“I got the opportunity to work with the talented and amazing Alexander Photography with Alexander MacDonald and Moving Matter Videography with Riccarda MacDonald. As well as some amazing designers such as Roch J Swimwear, Robin Snyders, Erique’s Designs, Denzil Pillay and Nadia Block Designs.”

Jade’s story

Van Heerden, who is originally from Namaqualand but now lives in Eastridge, said the win is proof that your dreams can come true.

The 24-year-old said she found the competition online by accident and was doubtful about entering.

“For some reason, the Look In Lens post was different. I found myself repeatedly going back to it, unable to shake the feeling that I should try,” she said.

The experience has changed her life.

“My journey on Look In Lens has been a profound period of personal reinvention and growth. Coming into this as an introverted, shy person who had never walked a runway or even worn heels before, the learning curve was steep. The Look In Lens team provided an incredible amount of guidance and support, helping me navigate every challenge. It wasn’t just about learning how to model, it was a journey of building self-confidence, breaking out of my shell, and learning to believe in my own potential.”

She hopes the win will inspire others.

“To achieve this means everything to me. It is living proof to myself, and to everyone back home, that your background does not dictate your future. I made it this far despite the odds, and this win belongs to that little girl who was once afraid to dream,” she said.

The show behind the story

The sold-out event was the first of its kind for Look In Lens, a visual media company founded by photographers and directors Alexander and Riccarda MacDonald.

Built on a mission to give models from Cape Town’s diverse communities a fair shot at an industry that has historically shut them out, the company provides training, mentorship, and a safe creative space for aspiring talent.

The selection process was demanding. From 85 hopefuls drawn from Mitchells Plain, Bellville, Kuils River, Strand, Athlone, and the Northern Cape, just 20 were chosen at the Look In Lens Casting.

A swimwear shoot and an activewear shoot followed, whittling the group down to a top 12.

Judges, who included the MacDonalds, Craig Turner, and Kayla Petersen then selected a final six, who completed a full glamour fashion photoshoot and intensive runway rehearsals before the big night.

Designers bring the glamour

The finalists walked the catwalk in show-stopping pieces featuring hand-sewn couture, intricate tulle, and rhinestone detailing from local designers, Denzil Pillay, Roch J, Robin Snyders, Nadia Block and Erique Contemporary Designs.

Each of the three 2026 Feature Models received a prize package to support their professional growth, including a full model portfolio, a year-long development contract with ongoing mentorship and training, fragrances, grooming sessions and an exclusive brand photoshoot.

“Our mission has always been to bridge the gap between raw talent and industry opportunity,” said founder Alexander MacDonald.

“Tonight, these models didn’t just walk a runway — they claimed their space in the fashion world.”