TWO dark horses came through the ranks of the final five fashion designers and five fabulous models to snap up the titles of design diva and catwalk queen at this week’s Weekend Post J&B Fashion Challenge.

In a night of glamour and gleam, Wildcard Natalie Creed – the youngest designer in the running at 21 – pulled off a show-stopper of a dress to win her the coveted prize to the J&B Met in Cape Town next year.

Model Ziphozakhe Zokufa cleaned up the ramp with her ravishing runway style.

Creed’s win was not without controversy with some of the judges bowled over by the intricate, hand-beaded plunge neckline and others seeing the lower half of the dress as a fashion faux pas at the finale held at Coco de Mer on Wednesday.

Both the competition and critiques were tough – leaving only one point between winner Creed and second placed designer, Megan Holden.

But in the end Creed’s dress, modelled by Yolanda Dandala, was the most inspirational for judges and the best in line with the theme: J&B “In Full Colour”.

“I’m feeling very happy – I can’t stop thinking about what I’m going to wear to the Met now,” Creed gushed.

She added she was going to be designing her own outfit for the hot-to-trot race and fashion event of the year: “I think I’m going to make something in mohair so I can promote my business.”

The youngest model from the final five of the Bay’s leggiest ladies took to the runway with verve and vivaciousness, wholly encompassing the J&B Met feel as she cruised the catwalk – moves that won Zokufa a trip to the fashion event of the year.

At 18, Zokufa – wearing Lee-Anne Griffiths’ turquoise and purple multi-layered ensemble – worked the audience, judges and ramp to earn her right to showcase herself at next year’s ritzy race day.

While one judge labelled her arrogant, others – like FHM editor and Weekend Post columnist Hagen Engler – said she knew exactly how to pull off a Met quality “turn heads” garment.

Zokufa will be wearing Creed’s design at the J&B Met next year.

Engler – a surprise guest judge – was totally wowed by the Bay talent. “I’ll say it again – PE has some of the hottest women in the country.”

He has promised to help the five finalist models out with their careers – and asked them all to forward a portfolio to him.

Coco de Mer was packed to the rafters with an audience that was much kinder to the designers and models than the judges were – and stayed to rock the room with London funky house deejay Eddie Armani.

The show has been hailed as a resounding success by organisers with J&B on board next year for an even “better and bigger” Fashion Challenge.

Ray Hitzeroth from Brandhouse said the show had blown him away: “J&B is looking forward to another slicker, hot- on-the-heels Challenge that will grow the local fashion industry and give our talent a chance to flaunt their fashion skills on the J&B Met platform.”

The model and designer win an all-expenses-paid trip to the J&B Met next year – with special VIP treatment and a chance to rub shoulders with the hottest South African celebs.