International model, television presenter, actress and entrepreneur, Ronette Marx, is sharing Christmas cheer, in an innovative way this year.
Johannesburg-based Marx, 35, affectionately known as Ronny, looks back on 20 years in the modelling industry with an exhibition highlighting some of her most popular and meaningful work. Proceeds and donations from this exhibition will go towards her Christmas charity drive.
“I was all set on doing the exhibition and wondered, how could I use this for good. How can I take the opportunity and make it bigger than myself?
“I am very involved in my community groups and see the cries for help daily. Although I try to help anonymously as much as I can, I thought let’s get everyone together on a festive day, for something uplifting, giving back while bringing your family out for a fun day. It can be anything from a bar of soap, an R10 or just a picture drawn by a kiddie who cares,” she said
The exhibition and charity drop will be held on 9 December, at the Prison Break Market.
“We will be smack in the middle, on the show and tell centre stage. The venue alone is full of amazing restaurants, food and gift stalls and even a photo prop “museum”.
On the stage, they can walk through the exhibition, meet me if they like and also do their charity drop. The rest of the day they can enjoy all there is to offer.
“The idea is to tell a story with the walkthrough, not just an array of images. On some jobs, crazy things happened. These little snippets will also be included to show the real world of modelling,” she said
The self-proclaimed farm girl from Bloemfontein has spent her adult life working as a film and television personality, with her “big break” coming from being scouted as a 14-year-old through a local modelling competition.
“I love Christmas and although it is the happiest of times for most, it can be a very lonely time for others. When I was young we always had a school concert at the town’s old age home and I will never forget the song we sang and how the faces of vulnerable grannies and grandpas lit up. This year, I would love to just bring a little Christmas cheer to our grannies and grandpa’s,” she said.
Frequently headlining big campaigns, magazine inserts and covers, Ronny is represented by The Circle Models in Cape Town, ICE Models in Johannesburg and Toabh in India.
Her modelling career has taken her from Bloemfontein to Cape Town and then India. She has now added mother to her job portfolio and navigates parenting life along with her race car driver husband, Antonie Marx.
Marx has recently been named Brand Ambassador for the Opulent Models group, the biggest international model competition in the country, filling the Sunbet Arena at Times Square with thousands and creating the opportunity for new faces to start an international modelling career, just like she did.
The Opulent Model search has produced numerous runway models that can be seen walking runways around the world such as London Fashion Week. Ronette will be involved as a brand partner, work with the Opulent management agency and scout for new talent, as well as be there for support and guidance to all models.
“For as long as the industry still wants me and books me, I absolutely (be involved in the modelling industry). It is my art and my passion. You might think it is all about me, but I am just a canvas. It takes a whole team, a makeup artist, a photographer who can make art with light, an art director, a stylist and so much more. It takes a village to create that masterpiece of a picture, and I love being the canvas,” she said.
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