FEATURE: Manila reaches new heights

MANILA REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

MANILA REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

Manila von Teez releases her first song “Come For Me” to amazing response!

Born in 2011, Manila Von Teez has grown to become a formidable performer on the Drag Scene. Her list of Achievements varies from Pageantry, where she has won many titles, such as Miss Black

Pride, Miss Cape Town Pride, Miss Cape Peninsula and Miss Loerie, to that as a performer. She has performed both Nationally and Internationally for numerous years. In 2016 she led a make-up Tutorial for Fashionista’s at the Launch of the #FoschiniForBeauty event, Foschini’s new online store.

Manila then performed at the launch of the new #MACartofthelip Store in Braamfontein, where

she shared the stage with the likes of AKA, DJ Zinhle, Fifi Cooper and Twins on Deck. Her highlight in 2016 was entering SA’s Got Talent where she was very fortunate to be awarded the position of Runner Up, beating out over 200 000 entries, the first Drag Act to make it that far.

Manila was also the lead in the Music Video of The Kiffness Song - “You Say You Love Me” (Voted Top SA Music Video of 2016) and she placed seventh in the world on the list of “The Black LGBTQ Power 100 in 2016!”

In 2019 she toured India, performing at the World-Famous Kitty Su Clubs. She performed at the Launch of the Edgars online Store in Fourways, SABC 2’s content launch, and was invited to perform at Somizi’s Wedding in January 2020 where she opened for DJ Black Coffee and Cassper Nyovest. The wedding is being screened on Showmax in a four-part series. In 2020 Levi’s Strauss approached her to collaborate on their Pride 2020 Campaign, as well as she has been named on the Mail & Guardians list of Top 200 Youth in South Africa! In 2021 she has been a part of Campaigns for Crocs SA, Vuse Inspired and was featured on #MethodMadness with Moonchild Sanelly. In 2022 Manila recorded her first Single “Come for Me” which was released in June 2022. “I’ve always enjoyed singing and performing, and during the pandemic, decided that the time was right for me to record my first track. We went out on the search for people to help assist make this a reality. We approached Tia Black who introduced us to Soulful Clay, and as they say, the rest is “herstory”.” Manila explained, “You often know you just have to just be your own cheerleader and during the process of creating this track I was having my own self-discovery and truly coming into my own and loving myself and everything that is part of me.... So, in this song I tell those people... “if you wanna come for me.... you can’t” cause I’m content with here!! Taking that power from the naysayers and haters and that’s totally where I am at in my life! A lesson we should all take and celebrate in the face of others who feel they can determine our happiness and futures.” She ended by adding, “So, it’s really a love letter to where am I and a celebration of loving yourself!” A regular performer at Zer021 Social Club, Beefcakes and ThursGay Nights, as well as designing all her own clothes through her label Haus of Vjorn, Manila shows no signs of slowing down and is most definitely a force to be reckoned with.