Helen Ziile Takes Us Through the Stunning Outfit She Rocked At Her Comedy Roast
Helen Ziile Takes Us Through the Stunning Outfit She Rocked At Her Comedy Roast. “The Showmax Roast of Helen Zille, recently place over the weekend. The roast, which drew the attention of the public, was everything expected and more.
The roastmaster was multi award winning comedian and actor Trevor Gumbi. His co-roastmaster was fellow comedian, actress, author and media personality Tumi Morake. The panelists of the roast were Bongani Bingwa, Patricia de Lille, Mel Viljoen, Loyiso Gola, Rian van Heerden, Zwai Bala, JJ Tabane, Coconut Kelz, and Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh. Everyone rolled out heavy punches, and the woman of the moment, Helen, gave as good as she got.
Helen, who looked radiant on the night, has just taken us through her outfit. It was a last minute thing, as she got the dress done just a day before the roast. The political leader and author admits that she isn’t a fashionista, and was one labelled the Worst Dressed Woman In SA.
“I don’t often give much thought about what to wear, which is why I was once awarded the title of “Worst Dressed Woman in SA” by the late, great Gwen Gill who authored the society page in the Sunday Times, before Craig Jacobs succeeded her with the “A-listers”. But when you are going to be the “roastee” at a Roast, you have to rise to the challenge,” Helen said.
Helen then turned her assistance for help. “Janine found a fabric shop still open, and with a couple of sparkling meters under her arm, headed for the home of her Auntie Dalene Jacobs. There, the two of them concocted a “look” for me that I would never have dared even to imagine for myself. By Wednesday night, 24 hours later, the gown was ready for the “red-eye” flight on Thursday morning,” she said.
Janine also came through with the right shoes, a clutch and ear-rings to match, and it was all systems go. “On Friday Janine helped me into the gown, and sewed me into it, at every strategic point to “avoid a wardrobe malfunction” as she put it. When I was a teenager, I badly wanted a cleavage, but didn’t have the necessary “equipment”. Now, at 74, I would never have dared to display it. Janine disagreed. So, who was I to argue? Janine also did my make-up and hair, and then gave me instructions on how to carry off the “look” on the red carpet. The dress was certainly a talking point and I soon felt at ease,” Helen added.
True Story: On Tuesday evening, this past week, I started thinking about what to wear for my "roast" at the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival on Friday. We were due to leave for Johannesburg on Thursday morning. Which meant I had all of Wednesday to solve the "outfit" challenge.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) May 4, 2025
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