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He checked off Milan Fashion Week as he turned heads walking the runway alongside his brother, Denetric Malope, last year. Now, Lebo Malope can check off Paris Fashion Week too.
The 18-year-old from Limpopo walked for brands like Botter and Wales Bonner at the fashion extravaganza in the French capital.
But the biggest moment came when Lebo walked in Pharrell Williams’ debut show for Louis Vuitton Men. "I cannot express how grateful I am to be part of this monumental moment in history," he captioned one of the many posts on Instagram.
Pharrell debuted his collection in Paris a few months after he was named Men's Fashion Director for Louis Vuitton following the passing of Virgil Abloh. Celebs came out in their numbers to support Pharrell and Lebo says walking the runway in front of A-listers such as Rihanna, Zendaya and Naomi Campbell is something he'll never forget.
"[My highlight was] the moment I saw a lot of celebrities because there were a lot of people watching the show. It was nice and exciting and they were very welcoming," Lebo said after the show.
It's been an exciting journey for the brothers, something they spoke about in an interview with YOU last year.
The story below was originally published in 7 July 2022 issue of YOU.
If you'd told his gangly, goofy, teenage self he’d one day be a sex symbol, he’d have laughed in your face.
Denetric Malope stood out from his peers like a sore thumb and was laughed at by other kids – but just look at him now.
The model, who’s from Elandskraal in Limpopo, turned heads at the recent Milan Men’s Fashion Week in Italy where some of the top fashion houses in the world showcased their Spring/Summer 2023 menswear collections. “I was teased about being tall and skinny when I was in high school. Now that it’s working for me, everyone from high school is shocked,” Denetric says.
The 23-year-old is no stranger to the catwalk – he’s walked the ramp for some of the biggest designers, including Prada and Dolce & Gabbana. But something made his turn in Milan extra special: he rocked the runway with his younger brother, Lebo, in tow.
“He’s a beautiful boy,” Denetric admits.
“I was waiting for the right time to introduce him to the industry. I needed the proper timing,” says the older brother, who moved abroad last year to pursue modelling.
The design graduate from Tshwane University of Technology joined a local modelling agency before he was spotted on social media by an international fashion scout. “I began modelling overseas last year when I travelled to Milan and did Prada and Dolce & Gabbana,” he says.
It wasn’t long before 18-year-old Lebo followed suit. The teen’s career kicked off after Denetric introduced him to his management team.
They ended up working together for Men’s Fashion Week after they both auditioned to walk for Fendi.
“Lebo started modelling early this year but went international at the beginning of June. I was so nervous about his debut but he told me, ‘Relax, I got this’, and I was so happy to watch him do his thing,” says the proud big brother.
Lebo is in Grade 10 at Nellmapius Secondary School in Pretoria and Denetric worried his little brother would buckle under the pressure of his big moment. But it turned out he had nothing to worry about: the teen looked like quite the pro as he rocked an animal-print design on the runway.
“Walking alongside my brother felt like a dream come true,” Lebo says.
Denetric realised he had a passion for fashion while studying IT at Tshwane University of Technology in 2019. He switched to fashion a year and a half into his IT degree with the full support of his mother, Connie Malope.
“Our mom always encourages us to do the best we can and to do what makes us happy,” he says.
“She’s our biggest cheerleader. Mom is the best. She always reminds us how proud she is and tells us how much she loves us.”
The brothers have an older brother, Boitumelo, who loves farming and prefers to stay out of the limelight, leaving that to his two siblings.
Denetric and Lebo get their creative edge from their grandmother, Margaret Malope, who was a popular dressmaker in their village in Elandskraal.
“When she realised I was following in her footsteps with fashion, she encouraged me and said if I take it seriously, it can take me places,” Denetric says. “And now it has.”
They owe their good looks to their mother, he adds. “We look like our mom – we have her facial structure. Lebo looks most like her because they have the same complexion.”
The brothers, who at 1,8 m tall are the ideal height for the runway, have always shared a keen interest in modelling. “We used to speak a lot about modelling together – it was always in the conversation,” Denetric says.
But he didn’t know they’d realise their dream so soon and walk side by side for the Italian fashion house.
“Fendi didn’t know that Lebo is my brother,” Denetric says. “We found out we’d be walking together when they notified us that we were chosen to be part of the models.”
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Lebo is still pinching himself after his debut. He flew to Italy for the fashion show and will soon return to South Africa.
The youngster, who was put up in a flat in Milan for the fashion show, plans to join his brother overseas once he finishes high school.
“He’s really excited because he’s such a hard worker. Just the other day he said he doesn’t want to go home,” Denetric says.
When he books his next international gig he can be sure his big brother will be waiting for him. 
EXTRA SOURCES: GOODGUYTHINGS.COM, SOWETANLIVE.CO.ZA, INSTAGRAM.COM
