RORY KEOHANE reports from the Seychelles, where he's spending time with internationally acclaimed photographer Jacque Weyers and five of the 10 models.
On Sunday, the traditional black Bridgestone bikinis were swapped for pink in support of the Pink Drive initiative, SA Swimsuit's breast cancer awareness campaign. Mala Bryan, Bianca Koyabe, Morgan Shelly and Derryn Lester all showed their support on the shores of Cote d’Or Beach and Anse Volbert on the bay at the border of the Paradise Sun resort.
Today is the winter solstice, the longest day of the year on the Seychelles islands, extending the light for an hour longer than usual – enough time for the girls to get their hair wet in the warm waters off Praslin, or watch the half-dozen giant tortoises graze cut grass a few metres from the shore while the others work. We took the time out to talk to them about the SA Swimsuit experience (to be posted on SARugbymag.co.za soon).
Between the resort and neighboring town, Bianca took to two wheels on a grassy trail. Weyers shot the bicycle-bound Model Search winner beneath the bowing palm trees, with a woven basket full of Havaianas hanging off the turquoise handlebars.
Mainstay got involved later in the day, supplying signature cocktails and swimwear for a shot with Nicole Meyer at the beachside bar. But it all came to a halt with the dying sun. A projector in the Paradise Sun’s breakfast hall was tuned to the coverage from Port Elizabeth, to watch the Springboks skin the Scots.
Unfortunately, outnumbered and overruled by French patrons of the Paradise Sun and a few locals, the Boks were swapped for Brazil’s World Cup clash with Chile shortly after half-time. Nonetheless, rugby remained the talk of the table.
Verdicts: Morné who? It’s an unforgiving game, after all. Pollard is the new Carter. De Jager is making Meyer’s decision on a locking duo in 2015 even more difficult… what happens when Eben Etzebeth and Pieter Steph du Toit come back from injury? Can Heyneke justify keeping both Bakkies and Matfield another year?
Thus, SA Rugby magazine departs the Seychelles. A few of the models set off with us, to be replaced by the likes of Genevieve Morton as Weyers and Co continue on the island for a further week.
Follow the progress from paradise at http://saswimsuit.co.za.
Photo: Rory Keohane/HSM Images
