By Adedapo Adesanya

The Venusta Fashion Show is officially gearing up for its highly anticipated 4th edition, following a sold-out atmosphere and over 200 attendees at its last outing. This year’s edition promises more style, more impact, and a breathtaking experience for designers, brands, and fashion enthusiasts.

Produced by Panda Media Entertainment and curated by Mr Michael “ICHIE PANDA” Okolie, Venusta has become a fast growing platform at the intersection of fashion, media, and creative excellence, championing bold African narratives and industry collaboration.

Adding to the excitement, VENUSTA will also unveil the second issue of Venusta Magazine, ushering in a new editorial chapter with Chichebe Dike announced as Editor-in-Chief. The upcoming issue is set to deliver sharper storytelling, elevated visuals, and conversations shaping the future of African fashion.

Speaking on the vision behind the platform, founder Mr Okolie notes, “There is an extraordinary wealth of untapped talent within the African fashion industry, from designers to models and creative storytellers whose voices deserve global visibility. Venusta was created as a platform to amplify these talents, provide meaningful exposure, and celebrate the richness of African culture through art, fashion, and collaboration. Beyond the runway, Venusta is a movement that honours identity, creativity, and the power of African expression.”

In another major reveal, anticipation is building around the Face of Venusta 2026, as the current reigning face, Miss Jessica Ogbulie, prepares to pass the torch. The search for the next face signals Venusta’s continued commitment to celebrating confidence, individuality, and modern African beauty.

With each edition raising the bar, the 4th Venusta Fashion Show is shaping up to be more than a runway, it’s a cultural moment and a strategic platform for brands, sponsors, and partners looking to align with innovation, visibility, and influence within Africa’s fashion ecosystem.

According to the organisers, the event date, venue, call for designers, sponsorship and partnership opportunities will be announced in due course.

Episode 2 of Heartbeat turned up the heat, giving viewers a closer look at the singles, their intentions, and the sparks already flying in the Love Pad.

Ken and Latifah were still feeling the closeness from their night together. Latifah was clearly enjoying the attention and didn’t want it to end, while Ken expressed comfort with her but also hinted at exploring other connections, a move that immediately stirred emotions.

As the singles settled in, conversations revealed more about who they really are. Chidera admitted her views on marriage and kids might clash with Kenna’s, though she confessed she liked him. Hilda shared that she was still trying to figure out Igwe, while Alvin revealed he finds older, intelligent women especially attractive. Shekinah, on the other hand, admitted she wasn’t connecting the way she hoped and longed for someone she could truly flow with in the Love Pad.

Drama soon followed when the singles wrote notes to the people who caught their eye and dropped them on the Walls of Heart. While some singles like Chidera, Kena, and Hilda didn’t receive any notes, Toria and Igwe were clearly the centre of attention.

Toria received notes from three different singles. Igwe wrote that he finds her attractive and would love to explore a connection with her. Ken described her as his “spec” and said he wants to get to know her on a deeper level, while Alvin expressed interest and curiosity, hoping to see where a connection with her could lead.

Igwe also received notes from three singles. Latifah asked him to make the first move, sharing that she would like to have conversations with him. Shekinah said she wanted to explore deeper conversations, while Toria wrote that she’s interested in getting to know him better and seeing where things could go.

Some singles didn’t get any notes, but that didn’t shake them. Chidera felt confident about her bond with Kena, Kena stayed focused on Chidera, and Hilda kept her cool despite the quiet attention.

Tensions rose during a playful lemon game when Shekinah stopped mid-play, leading to a heated exchange with Igwe. Later, Shekinah and Alvin had an honest conversation about respect and communication, leaving Shekinah surprised by his directness. Ken and Latifah navigated tricky emotions as Ken admitted he’d like to be paired with Toria if recoupling happened, which didn’t sit well with Latifah, who revealed she had her eyes on Igwe.

The episode climaxed with the Score Kiss Challenge, a blindfolded game where men kissed each woman while wearing headphones, and the women rated each kiss purely on feel. When the scores were counted, Igwe emerged as the best kisser, earning the power to choose who he would spend the night with in the Love Nest, a choice that could shift dynamics across the house.

Episode 2 proved that attraction, curiosity, and tension are rising fast. With notes exchanged, sparks flying, and Igwe holding the key to the next night, all eyes are on Episode 3 to see who will get the Love Nest and whose hearts will collide next.

Catch Heartbeat every Sunday at 9 pm on Africa Magic Showcase, GOtv Channel 8, and Showmax. To upgrade, subscribe, or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.

Skills development is one of the fundamental engines of growth for any industry. Training allows aspiring young people to enter the economy, passionate about building careers and contributing to the growth of the business. Their energy is infectious and vital, but it must be shaped through training.

In creative industries, however, training has a wider effect. It not only equips emerging young professionals with skills, but it also drives shared value and enriches culture through the work and the content that those young creators go on to produce.

Africa-wide training

A case in point is the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), an Africa-wide network of training institutions headquartered in Nairobi, Lagos and Lusaka, and founded by MultiChoice, a Canal+ company.

The effectiveness of MTF courses, grounded in three decades enriching lives as Africa’s most-loved storyteller, are widely recognised. But the close relationship with the MultiChoice network also means that graduates of the academies soon go on to rewarding careers creating content for the pan-African network.

This is local content; homegrown, relevant and resonating with the tastes and the cultural needs of African audiences – allowing viewers to see themselves reflected in the shows they love. These might be iconic reality shows like Big Brother Naija,  Heartbeat, Real Housewives of Lagos, or popular drama such as Tinsel.

The films they produce are broadcast to audience acclaim on MultiChoice channels across the continent. These culturally impactful films include West African fantasy drama Grown.

Applications are currently open for this year’s intake of students at the MTF Academies in Lagos, Nairobi and Lusaka. African graduates who aspire to become directors, filmmakers, scriptwriters, producers and storytellers can now apply for fully funded courses at the industry-leading network of academies.

As part of the CANAL+ family, MultiChoice has rededicated itself to empowering young people with filmmaking, production and storytelling skills.

Enriching lives through content

This homegrown content is cultural output, entertaining and inspiring audiences from Maputo to Accra, strengthening African and national identity, while creating further jobs, boosting entrepreneurship and business opportunities and building a trove of African intellectual property.

MultiChoice functions as an ecosystem catalyst, building partnerships with broadcasters, guilds, financiers, and educators that scale opportunity beyond a single platform. MTF graduates then enter this ecosystem upon graduation, and enrich it with their passion, ideas and awareness.

In an economic sense, training academies like MTF are engines of growth. Feeding the creative economy with up to 60 graduates every year gives it energy and impetus that leads to new productions, and fresh approaches to existing ones. Those productions build audiences and revenue, which in turn funds more creative projects, jobs and skills across the value chain.

Homegrown Culture Engine

MultiChoice stands out as a homegrown culture engine, shaping modern African culture through decades of local content. It drives social-media trends, memes, gossip, and watch parties. Shows like Big Brother Naija attract millions online, sparking conversations and creating culture.

Big Brother Naija has launched stars across West Africa, like Mercy Eke, whose fame has brought multi million endorsements and business like MNM Luxury and Lambo homes. Sparking conversations, inspiring comments, and creating culture.

Creating this culture demands more than technical skill, it requires the instincts of Africa’s digital generation, people who understand how modern Africans live, engage, and consume content. For audiences, this approach ensures entertainment that reflects their tastes, lifestyles, and values.

Those who are interested in joining the next generation of storytellers can apply to the MTF 2026 cohort. Applications close on 27 February 2026. Prospective students can visit https://multichoicetalentfactory.com/mtf-applications/index.php to learn more about the MTF programme requirements.

For aspiring filmmakers, this could be their first step towards a career at the cutting edge of African entertainment.