There are moments that feel like cultural reset buttons, days when beauty, legacy, and power converge effortlessly. Our Never Settle cover shoot with Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu, Laconco, Sarah Langa, Stephanie Ndlovu, Toolz, and Kutlwano “The Boujee Traveler”
was one of those moments.

In partnership with Disney+’s latest series All’s Fair – by Ryan Murphy,  starring Kim Kardashian, Teyana Taylor, Niecey Nash, Naomi Watts, Sarah Paulsen and Glenn Close, redefining the politics of love, ambition, and self-worth. We gathered six African personalities  who embody that same fearless duality. Shot in Morningside, Johannesburg by the visionary Austin Malema of RTC Studios in a breathtaking mansion that could easily have been a set from the show itself, the day was a symphony of glamour, laughter, and quiet power.

From the moment the gates opened, you could feel it, the grandeur of the mansion matched only by the energy of the stars inside it. Sunlight poured into high archways, sequins glimmered under chandeliers, and rails of couture filled the hallways.

The wardrobe was nothing short of spectacular: structured gowns, delicate corsets, and bold silhouettes that framed each star like a work of art. Glamour wasn’t just the theme, it was the language everyone spoke fluently. Everyone arrived on time, poised, ready, and radiant. It was as if they’d been waiting for this exact moment, a convergence of excellence and ease.

Then she walked in, Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu, the icon herself. The room shifted instantly. Her presence carried both grace and history; her smile, the warmth of a familiar memory. And then, in a moment that melted everyone’s heart, she opened with that legendary 3Talk greeting – a nostalgic nod that made the entire team erupt in joy.

It wasn’t just a callback; it was a reminder of how deeply Noeleen’s voice is woven into the fabric of South African storytelling. As she moved through the set, encouraging, laughing, and sharing quiet words with the younger women, it was clear that she wasn’t just part of the cover – she was its heartbeat. This article is an audition for all of us to be invited to her famous Sunday cookouts. We now know she wakes up in ungodly hours to keep her family and friends happy and loved. 

Laconco, ever the commanding presence, embodied regal femininity; grounded, magnetic, and unbothered by the noise. Her laughter filled the halls, a reminder that power doesn’t always need to be loud to be felt. You only had to get her coffee order right and all is well in her world. Laconco is a mother , She has since moved on and in our interview, she speaks to Noeleen about going on dates with suitors. Who wouldn’t want a date with this hottie?

Sarah Langa, poised and polished, gave us luxury with intention. Between shots, she reflected on how her definition of success has softened over time: “It’s about peace now, not proving, just being. Known for her style and international work, Sarah’s humility made her even more fitting for this shoot. In our YouTube interview, she speaks about her publicized divorce, while affirming co-star Stephanie Ndlovu. Sarah is in a loving relationship, opening her interior design studio and bagging more degrees than a Pretoria sun. 

Stephanie Ndlovu, the multi-hyphenate talent, brought emotional depth. “Love is my superpower,” she said, her eyes bright. “It anchors me while I chase everything else.” Newly divorced yet thriving, healing took its own pace and let’s just say, she is on the other side and we love to see it. Stunning in a red gown and later a black jacket dress, Stephanie speaks about successfully co-parenting with her former husband. 

Toolz, a media powerhouse, carried both wit and warmth – his  energy grounding yet electric. “We’ve all had to rewrite what ‘having it all’ means, especially in love. Dating gets more complicated as you get older, even though you are now clear about what you want, the world keeps changing” he said with a knowing smile. 

And Kutlwano, The Boujee Traveler, embodied freedom,  the joy of exploration, and independence. Known for her travels, a legal expert by profession and a full time hot girl, Kutlwano has had her fair share of heartbreak, with almost marrying the love of her life, the father of her child, to navigating singlehood post the relationship. A brilliant mind who had to find healing after loss.

As the day unfolded, between hair touch-ups, laughter over tight corsets, and impromptu dance breaks, something beautiful happened. The lines between generations, industries, and backgrounds blurred. The energy was incredible – big personalities celebrating one another, not competing.If All’s Fair explores what happens when women take charge of their love stories, our cover women showed us what it looks like when they take charge of their lives. They’re not waiting to be chosen; they’re choosing themselves,  over and over again.

“Power isn’t loud,” Noeleen said quietly at one point, watching a younger star pose under the lights. “It’s knowing your worth and walking in it, beautifully, gently, unapologetically.”

Never Settle isn’t just a theme. It’s a declaration for individuals redefining success on their own terms, blending ambition with ease, power with peace, and confidence with authenticity.

And as the last camera flash faded, one truth lingered in the air: in a world that often tries to box people in, these six refused to.They expanded. They embodied. They redefined

Because power, in all its beauty, is what happens when women refuse to settle.

Hulu’s All’s Fair is now streaming  exclusively on Disney+, A lifetime of great stories.