Somerset West DIY content creator wins national prize

Somerset West content creator and do-it-yourself (DIY) educator Elle Franco has been named one of three national winners in the 2025 Brights Women in DIY Excellence Awards.

The annual awards celebrate women who are reshaping the country’s DIY landscape through creativity, innovation, and community impact.

Ms Franco won for her body of work that started more than ten years ago, crafting pallet furniture in her first apartment, to her time as a television presenter. She has been running her social media account DIY with Elle since 2015, with more than 19 000 followers on Instagram. She is also known for her monthly step-by-step features in a magazine.

She said she was planning to revive her YouTube channel with the content.

Judges applauded Ms Franco for her approachable, “you can do this too” teaching style and for inspiring first-time makers to tackle projects with confidence. Her work ranges from simple décor upgrades to more advanced builds such as pergolas, fencing, and shelving.

The chief executive of the company that presented the awards, Orlando Luis, said after receiving a range of entries from across the country, the judges have named three inspiring winners whose work stood out for its skill, originality, and impact.

“We saw women using DIY not only to beautify their homes but to empower others, build communities, and promote sustainability. The passion, innovation, and confidence of these women continue to raise the bar for creativity in South Africa,” he said.

The other two national winners are Johannesburg-based creator Nkosazana Mtshazi, known as DIY Princess Nkosazana, whose family-friendly, sustainability-focused projects have built a substantial online audience; and Gqeberha’s Ndandu Khavhadi, the creator behind Just a Mom with a Drill, recognised for merging DIY, design teaching, and community upliftment.

Each winner received a R5 000 voucher and a R5 000 product hamper to support future projects.