2025 Crown Bursary Fund Recipients

Jaguar and #GiveHerACrown are proud to announce the seven recipients of the 2025 Crown Bursary Fund—visionary young women whose bold creativity and personal stories are shaping the future of South African fashion. Delivered in partnership with Inscape Education Group, the bursaries are part of Jaguar’s continued mission to support artistic innovation, gender empowerment, and purposeful storytelling.

Jaguar, which is currently transforming into an all-electric luxury brand by 2025, is known not only for its expressive design and pioneering technology, but also for its longstanding support of creative platforms that challenge norms and shift perspectives. This partnership with #GiveHerACrown exemplifies Jaguar’s belief that art and design can drive societal progress—providing women with the tools, visibility, and confidence to lead.

Founded in 2020, #GiveHerACrown is a female empowerment platform that uses storytelling and the arts to change the narrative for women. From amplifying survivors, activists, and pioneers to nurturing the next generation of creatives, the platform continues to open doors for talent that deserves to be seen and heard.

The 2025 bursary recipients will complete a year-long Higher Certificate in Fashion Design—a programme that equips students with creative, technical and entrepreneurial skills tailored to the modern fashion industry. The total value of the bursaries—R250,000—fully covers tuition, materials, and academic support. More importantly, the programme offers each recipient a tangible opportunity to transform their future.

Jaguar x #GiveHerACrown: Driving creative empowerment

The partnership between Jaguar and #GiveHerACrown goes beyond funding—it’s about belief in the power of creativity to uplift, inspire, and drive lasting change. Last year, five designers from the campaign’s Crown Collection—Manthe Ribane, Gugu Peteni, Thando Ntuli, Keneilwe Mothoa, and Tsakani Mashaba—showcased their collections at New York Fashion Week 2024, marking a powerful moment for South African design on the global stage. Themed ‘Shifting Perspectives’, the 2024 campaign drew inspiration from the evocative poetry of Qui Quarre, and explored identity, memory, and womanhood through fashion.

“At Jaguar, we believe that creativity has the power to shift narratives and unlock potential. The #GiveHerACrown campaign is a reflection of that belief—amplifying women’s voices through fashion, storytelling, and education,” says Irene Kakooza, Brand Manager, Jaguar and Range Rover South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. “Seeing our designers take to the global stage at New York Fashion Week and our bursars thrive at Inscape has been a deeply rewarding milestone. It reaffirms our commitment to creating spaces where women can lead, innovate, and inspire the world around them.”

Meet the 2025 Bursars

Each bursar carries a unique story of resilience, ambition, and artistic vision:

• Keitumetse Joy Motladile hand-sewed a full denim collection to prove her talent to her father. “I am the next best thing,” she says, now dreaming of her own NYFW debut.
• Alisha Maluleke, an aspiring stylist who once faced rejection, now envisions collaborating with Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger. “Style should be a crown of self-expression,” she says.
• Sange Dyosi sees fashion as a spiritual journey. “This bursary reminded me that my gift is meant to serve others.”
• Kecha van Wyk, a University of Pretoria graduate, uses fashion as a form of activism. “I want to challenge the status quo with my collections.”
• Moloko Mary Morapi calls the experience a dream come true. “My skills are improving every day. This is what I’ve longed for.”
• Asanda Ananda Ngobese, a student leader and class representative, believes in women’s transformative power. “The world could fully function with women running it.”
• Kedebone Thapelo Ngobese was deeply moved by last year’s runway designs. “Fashion becomes powerful when it tells your story,” she reflects.

This year’s bursary programme is more than an educational opportunity—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when industry, creativity, and purpose converge.