Versus Paint | A Life in Colour with Talitha Oosthuizen

We caught up with Talitha Oosthuizen, brand ambassador and Mrs South Africa 2026 1st Princess, for an inspiring conversation about the powerful role colour plays in fashion, interiors and our everyday lives. With the support of Versus Paint, the conversation explores how colour can shape identity, emotion and experience.

A passion for design and colour

For Talitha, colour is far more than an aesthetic choice. It is deeply connected to identity, emotion and experience — from the turquoise shades of the ocean and icy mountain landscapes she encounters through her love of mountaineering, to the rich greens, golds and earthy hues that remind her of South Africa.

With a passion for fashion and design, Talitha uses colour to tell a story, express her individuality and celebrate the brands and people she represents. As she prepares to take her new handbag range to Paris Fashion Week, colour continues to be an important part of her creative journey.

Her personal palette also speaks to something deeper: faith, resilience, adventure, freedom and purpose. In our conversation, Talitha shares the colours that empower her, how fashion allows her to communicate without words, and why she believes the colours we choose to wear — and surround ourselves with at home — can have a meaningful influence on how we feel.

We wanted to know what colour really means to Talitha. Read on to hear what she has to share…

1. Colour can influence how we feel and how confidently we present ourselves. Which colour makes you feel most empowered, and why?

My favourite colour is turquoise. I absolutely love the sea, and my favourite animal is the orca, so I naturally associate turquoise with the ocean. But it also reminds me of the mountains I climb — the white snow, the deep blue skies and those incredible turquoise reflections you sometimes see in the ice and glacial landscapes, all blending together like a beautiful artwork.

For me, turquoise carries a silent strength. It isn’t loud or demanding, yet it is different and it stands out. It is calm, but bold in its own way. That resonates with me and with my own journey, especially through mountaineering, where I have learnt that strength does not always have to be loud to be powerful. There can be confidence in calmness, resilience in softness, and strength in simply knowing who you are.

2. As Mrs South Africa 2026 1st Princess, how do you use colour through fashion to express your personality and individuality?

I love fashion, and I love telling a story through the outfit and colours I wear. Especially in my role as Mrs South Africa 1st Princess, when I visit our sponsors, I always try to incorporate a colour that reflects or complements their brand. I think those small details show thought and respect.

I also try to wear something from my own brand as often as I can, even if it is simply one of our handbags. That is a big part of my individuality because I am involved in the design process from choosing the colours to putting my ideas onto paper — and although my drawings are very primitive, thankfully my team understands exactly what I mean!

Colour also often reflects my mood, sometimes without me even realising it. It depends on the occasion too — there are moments when I want to be bold and make a statement, and others where I want to feel feminine, soft and elegant. For me, colour choice should be intentional, from the outfit right through to the handbag.

Handbags are such an important part of our brand, and that makes this especially exciting for me as we prepare to take our new handbag range to Paris Fashion Week. It is another opportunity to tell our story through design, colour and individuality. Versus Paint similarly highlights how colour can influence the way people experience and express their spaces.

3. South Africa is known for its vibrant landscapes, cultures and creative energy. Which colours best represent the country to you?

South Africa has so many colours that I could never choose just one. Green and gold immediately come to mind — not only because of our landscapes, but because they are the colours of our Springboks, and something the world instantly recognises as proudly South African.

Then there are the natural colours of our country: the golden grasslands, the greens of our bushveld, the acacia trees with their unmistakable silhouettes and thorns, and the earthy tones that remind me so much of our wildlife and African landscapes.

And then we have the incredible bursts of colour in our indigenous flowers and fynbos — the pinks, yellows, purples and reds that make our country feel so alive. Add to that the deep blue of our skies and oceans and the gold of an African sunset, and you really have a palette that is uniquely South African.

For me, those colours represent strength, diversity, resilience, beauty and pride. South Africa is not one colour — we are a beautiful collection of colours, cultures and landscapes that somehow all belong together.

4. Do you believe the colours we surround ourselves with — whether in fashion or interiors — can positively influence our mood and wellbeing?

Definitely. And I don’t think it is only something we imagine — there is research showing that colour can influence our mood, emotions and even how we respond to an environment.

I think our surroundings affect us far more than we sometimes realise. Certain colours can make a space feel calmer and more peaceful, while others can make it feel warmer, brighter or more energising. Even in fashion, putting on a colour that you love can change the way you feel and the confidence with which you carry yourself.

But I also believe colour is very personal. What makes me feel calm or confident may create a completely different feeling for someone else. That is why, whether I am choosing an outfit or colours for a space, I think it is important to choose colours that connect with you and create the feeling you want to experience.

5. If you could create a signature colour palette that reflected your personal journey, which shades would you choose, and what would each one represent?

My signature palette would definitely include turquoise, maroon, royal blue, purple, green, white and gold — because together they reflect so many different parts of who I am and the journey I have walked.

Turquoise would always be at the heart of it.

It is my favourite colour and, as I mentioned, it reminds me of the sea, the mountains I climb, the ice, the sky and that quiet strength I find in nature. For me, it represents purpose, faith, calmness and resilience.

Maroon feels warm, elegant and strong.

There is something almost regal about it, but for me it also represents the warrior within — the part of me that keeps standing, keeps fighting and keeps moving forward.

Royal blue represents freedom, hope and peace.

It reminds me of wide open skies, air, wind and that feeling that there are no limits. Blue also has a very personal meaning for me because it is strongly associated with the fight against human trafficking, a cause that is very close to my heart. For me, it represents the hope of freedom and a future beyond captivity.

Purple reflects my bold, creative and adventurous side.

It has strength and individuality to it, but also elegance. I think it represents the part of me that is always willing to try something new, dream bigger and take on the next challenge.

Green represents growth, nature and adventure.

It also represents the mountains, the outdoors and constantly becoming more of the person I am meant to be. White would represent my faith, surrender, peace and new beginnings. And gold would represent purpose, opportunity and the beautiful moments that have come from continuing to believe, serve and grow.

Together, those colours would tell my story: a woman of faith and purpose, an adventurer, a warrior, and someone who wants to use her journey to bring hope, freedom and possibility to others.

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