Celebrity News
Bonang Matheba Brings High Fashion to Miss Cosmo 2025
Bonang Matheba’s appearance at the Miss Cosmo 2025 Grand Finale and Beauty Music Festival in Ho Chi Minh City signalled early on that this would not be a routine hosting role. Her control of the programme, from timing to tone, reflected a host comfortable working at that level.
Held on 20 December, Miss Cosmo 2025 brought together more than 80 national representatives in a production that merged beauty, music and live performance. The evening moved at a fast pace, demanding a host who could guide proceedings while remaining visually and tonally aligned with a global broadcast. Matheba handled that balance with ease, maintaining authority without pulling focus away from the competition itself.
Bonang Matheba – Instagram
Her fashion choices played a central role in shaping how the night was received. Rather than relying on familiar European fashion houses, Matheba wore three distinct looks created by African designers, two from Nigeria and one from South Africa. The selections were sharp, confident and camera-ready, with cuts and structure that translated clearly on a large stage without feeling overstated. Each outfit felt purposeful, reinforcing the idea that African designers belong naturally within international fashion conversations.
Bonang Matheba – Instagram
The response online followed almost immediately. Viewers and fashion commentators praised her composure and her ability to hold her own in a setting shaped by international beauty standards and tightly choreographed performances. Many read her decision to spotlight African designers at an Asian-hosted pageant as a clear statement that high fashion does not need European validation to be taken seriously.
Bonang Matheba – Instagram
This approach is familiar territory for Matheba. She has consistently used major public appearances to draw attention to designers from across the continent, treating high-profile broadcasts as opportunities to expand recognition rather than simply showcase personal style. Her appearance at the Miss South Africa 2024 finale, where she wore five different looks by Nigerian creatives, set a clear precedent for this kind of cross-border collaboration.
What stood out at Miss Cosmo was how naturally this strategy fitted the moment. There was no sense of performance or explanation attached to her choices. The clothes spoke for themselves, supported by strong construction, precise detailing and a clear understanding of how fashion functions on live television.
Bonang Matheba – Instagram
In Ho Chi Minh City, Bonang Matheba did more than guide a global pageant. She used her role to draw wider attention to designers often absent from international broadcasts, reinforcing her position as a cultural figure who understands both visibility and responsibility. As Miss Cosmo continues to expand its international reach, her presence offered a clear example of how fashion, when handled with intent, can shift perception without saying a word.
