Those controversies we’ll probably never forget about 2013

As we drift out of 2013, it is important to reflect on how much bad and good we’ve done in it. Not that it matters, sometimes it’s fun to just reminisce and have a hearty laughter. The fashion world is always synonymous with controversies. Like those black face editorials of L’officiel magazine and how Carine Roitfeld got fired from Vogue Paris. We have never forgotten  them. Kampala to be specific, had it’s own share of controversies. We share these controversies with you and tell you why we have never gotten over them. 1. Doreen Kabareebe’s reign as a model came to an end In a sudden twist of events, one of Kampala’s top glamour models announced that she would actually quit modelling to join politics. After telling all and sundry in a Facebook post on a wall, she appeared on the runway at the Fashion Reunion party as a scantily dressed bride. This she said was the last time she was appearing on the runway as a model. Just last month, Doreen won the award of Best female model at the Style & Fashion Awards. She beat models such as Aamito Stacie Queen who is now in top 3 at Africa’s Next Top Model by Oluchi. As if that wasn’t enough, the visibly excited model walked to the stage and asked the fashion revelers to remember Nelson Mandela. She also used that opportunity to bash tabloids  that give her a hard time. 2. Kalungi Kabuye Vs Miss Uganda Veteran society writer Kalungi Kabuye was on the chopping board because of an article he wrote just before the Miss Uganda 2013 search was launched. He described the whole process as one that was only aimed at making the contestants look like  a joke to laugh at. He added that after a forgettable stint as beauty queens, these girls always bask in oblivion. It is so bad that no one even cares to know about them after. This article sparked off a social media rift where former Sylvia Namutebi and Dorah Mwima hurled insults at him. The two former beauty queens  told the world how much the pageant had impacted on people’s lives. Kalungi Kabuye remained tight lipped about it all. He was later bashed by the team at Africa Fashion Walk Awards. They described the award winning writer as a joke and the worst thing that has ever happened to fashion in Uganda. 3. Phiona Bizzu announced she was joining medical school Phiona Bizzu is probably one of the few former beauty queens who have managed to keep a high social status even after their reign. In a tell all interview with us, the former beauty queen opened up that she was going to medical school. To quote her;

 I was doing International Business but I feel I can be a better Ugandan when I offer medicine. If all goes well I’ll be enrolling into medical school instead of business.

This sparked off  a war of words on social media as many people thought it was one of those big jokes. A number of months after this interview, Bizzu shows no sign of running off to medical school. We still have hope though…!! 4. Two fashion awards events on the same night This was a huge shocker. A huge number of people did not know that there was another fashion award giving event on the same night as the Fashion & style awards. The event organised by Afrikan Fashion Walk Awards was held at Cayenne and it rewarded everyone from models to writers and photographers. The Men’s Fashion Xplosion that doubled as the Fashion & Style awards were held at MTN Arena. This event which had more pomp and buzz also awarded best fashion icons, photographers, writers and models. How this happened gathered no explanation. The Afrikan Walk fashion awards has been an annual event for a long time while the Fashion & Style awards was an inaugural event. Happy new year 2014 to all our readers. We are ready for many more controversies in 2014. Photo credit: Conrad Roy (Doreen Kabareebe), Dorah Mwima (TheFace Studio) and Giulio Molfese (Phionah Bizzu) satisfashionug@gmail.com