On 19 June 2026 the brand store was opened at the Science Centre and planetarium dome. “When I first saw the brand store, I thought, ‘Wow! It looks like a shop you would see in a mall’,” says Leighton, a 24-year-old third-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in Human Resource Management.
“I met so many people, including the Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibongile Muthwa who opened the store – the atmosphere was amazing,” says Braylon, 19, a second-year BA Law student. Both pursue modelling in addition to their studies.
Student siblings Leighton and Braylon Gallant at the launch of Nelson Mandela University’s official brand store
“I’ve loved being in front of the camera since high school,” says Leighton. “At first my sister and I would do random photo shoots of each other and post them on social media. Then in 2024 I started modelling and doing adverts just for extra money at first through a local modelling academy.”
Leighton soon realised it could develop into something more substantial as he immediately started winning local modelling competitions, including Mr Winter Look 2024 and Mr Gqeberha 2025. He encouraged Braylon to start modelling too which she did, in 2025. “I’m what they call a curvy model these days,” she explains.
In October last year, a talent scout from Paris, Anastasia Gai, spotted them at the 2025 South African Championships of Performing Arts (SACOPA) which features performers across a number of categories, including acting, dancing, instrumentals, modelling, variety acts and vocals.
“Through Anastasia we got to model at Paris Fashion Week in March this year, which is obviously a phenomenal showcase,” says Leighton. But behind the glamour and exposure, it was a tough road getting there as they had to pay their own way, for flights and accommodation in Paris.
To raise the funds, the siblings, together with family and friends led a fundraising campaign that included everything from selling boerewors rolls to hosting music bingo evenings, raffles, high teas and prize giveaways. “We raised a good amount of money ourselves,” says Leighton. “The rest came out of our family’s pocket.”
Braylon and Leighton Gallant at Paris Fashion Week
In Paris, both siblings walked for international designers and experienced the thrill of sharing a runway with models from around the world. “It was surreal, I felt like I was in a movie,” says Leighton. “It felt like an out-of-body experience,” Braylon adds. “I had always dreamed of being in the big leagues, but when you are actually there, it feels unreal.”
They modelled for American brand K.Bobby, Paris-based Minerva Paris, Italian jewellery label Vualle and Luxembourg-based designer Daniel Tarazona.
Returning from Paris they put their feet firmly back on earth to focus on their degrees. Leighton is pursuing his degree part-time while earning money, including as a barista, to help with the day to day costs of running their family home in Newton Park.
“Our Dad passed away during Covid and our Mom is a psychiatric nurse,” says Leighton who aims to pursue honours and master’s degrees in Industrial Psychology. “Human behaviour is intriguing to me, such as why people respond so differently to the same situation.”
Braylon would like to pursue a career in criminal law, as she explains: “I am passionate about criminal law. What started this was the rape and murder in 2019 of 19-year-old University of Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana. It happens to so many girls and women in this country and it is a big thing for me to be the voice for them.”
Braylon adds that she wants to inspire young women, based on her own journey. As a child, she struggled with a medical condition that caused excessive insulin production and led to weight gain and bullying because of her appearance. Through guidance from a dietician and a commitment to fitness, she lost weight and achieved the requirements for international runway work as a curvy model.
The next goal for the siblings is to get to New York Fashion Week from 24 July to 2 August, but again, they need to find their own way of getting there and are looking for sponsorships. “Hundreds of international agents will be there so it would an incredible opportunity,” Leighton concludes.