The magazine was born from YOU’s continuing success with makeovers. Due to the absence of a makeover magazine on the market, Esmaré Weideman, Editor-in-Chief of YOU; Huisgenoot; and Drum, and their brand extensions, along with YOU Publisher, Willem Breytenbach, decided to fill the gap. YOU Makeovers will initially be published twice a year.

The magazine focuses on ordinary South African women who want to look and feel their best. About 80% of the people who had makeovers done were YOU and Huisgenoot readers who responded to a Facebook invitation and a team of local stylists and journalists then worked their magic.

The magazine is filled with advice that will make it easy for readers to refresh their own images, including how to update a look in 10 minutes, simple information on plastic surgery and a comprehensive make-up and fashion guide. Using their favourite celebrities as inspiration, readers are transformed and turned into younger versions of themselves. There are also plenty of tricks for looking slimmer.

“Makeover sessions are a sign of the times, but in YOU Makeovers we want to give readers more than just a string of before-and-after photographs,” says Izelle Venter, Editor of YOU Makeovers and recently appointed Editor of YOU and Huisgenoot’s brand extensions. “We hope to equip women across South Africa with practical advice and heaps of inspiration and to encourage them to think about their appearance in a new way.”

The cherry on the top is the makeover of one of South Africa’s favourite soapie characters, Yvette Stuurman of M-Net’s Binneland Sub Judice. Cover girl, Michelle Pienaar’s stunning transformation is featured simultaneously in YOU Makeovers and on the TV show.

YOU Makeovers is available in leading stores countrywide from 4 October at R34.95.