
Undeniably South Africa’s cheekiest and most audacious awards ceremony, the Feather Awards is a celebration of public figures – in the entertainment, sports and business fields – that the gay community finds inspiring, amusing, or just plain scandalous. Renowned for it’s take-no-prisoners, tell-it-like-it is approach, the Feather Awards has consistently delivered an evening of hilarity, heartfelt tributes, and unpolitically correct, yet well-placed truth-telling. In an exciting development this year, for the first time, the event will be screened on SABC1 – taking the event to the entire nation.
“It feels amazing to have actually reached 4 years of the Feathers! The ceremony has been so well-embraced, and supported across the board” comments awards founder and co-producer Thami Kotlolo “The Feathers are now a firm part of the Mzansi entertainment scene – and more importantly, have created a platform for sexual minorities to express themselves about the lighter side of life. We deal with so many heavy and serious issues as gays and lesbians in South Africa – this is just one night where we kick back be fabulous, and give a ‘Cheers, darling!’ to people who inspire us!”
One of the most highly anticipated categories, that of Drama Queen, does not disappoint, with eliminated Idols star Tshidi “Don’t Jump on Me!” Tenyane, alleged fraudster Bishop Keith Harrington, singer Tina Mkwaiwa and actor slash theatre producer Sello Maake ka Ncube, nominated for the contentious trophy. On a more dignified note, the Role Model of the Year category features a mixed bag of personalities, namely Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, magazine editor Khanyi Dlhomo, and Olympics trophy winners Caster Semenya and Chad le Clos.
Clearly, being an ‘It Girl’ is synonymous with Fag-haggery – Samkelo Ndlovu, Lerato Kganyago, Bonang Matheba and Lucia Mthiyane – all undeniably hotties on the scene, are all up for the Fag Hag of the Year category. Meanwhile, Miss SA, Melinda Bam, vocalist LIndiwe Suttle, it-girl Minnie Dlamini and TV presenter Jeannie D will do battle for the title of Best Styled Female. And so it goes on, an honour-roll of Mzansi’s party animals, the most fabulous, most beautiful and of course, the most scandalous – Socialite of the Year, Hunk of the Year, Best Styled Male & Female, Hot Chick of the Year and Cutest Couple of the year, the list goes on and on… In a first for the event, the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts & Recreation will be sponsoring the Sports Personality of the Year category, while SABC1 programme The Real Ghoboza (RGB) has appropriately elected to sponsor the Drama Queen category.
The awards will take place on the 7th of November and the venue is not announced yet, these photos were taken at the 2012 feather awards nominees announcement party: