Former World of Wearable Art (WOW) Supreme Award winner, designer, stylist and author Mandi Kingsbury passed away Saturday, surrounded by family and her partner, Gerry O’Leary.
Journalist Carolyn Enting posted the news to both her Instagram and the Give a Little page set up to help the family recover expenses, as Kingsbury’s multiple sclerosis was a pre-existing condition that insurance could not cover.
O’Leary said, ‘She has now begun her next creative chapter, crafting her heavenly art alongside the angels.’
Enting noted, ‘May you soar to new heights on your next big adventure my beautiful friend. You have shaken off the shackles of MS and are free. You were a beautiful human, incredible artistic director, stylist, award winning designer, book author and friend. I will miss you so much.’
Born in New Zealand but in the GCC for much of her working life, Kingsbury graduated from Massey University with a diploma in textile design, and took the top prize at the World of Wearable Art competition in 1994.
This led to her being head-hunted by Arushi, which saw her head to Dubai, where she designed wedding dresses for royal houses in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
In 1997, Kingsbury decided to go freelance, beginning with jewellery design, an area in which she was also an international award-winner. After stints in Roma and Milano, she headed back to the Gulf, designing for major clubs and hotels, and coordinated Dubai Fashion Week.
Kingsbury was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the 2000s.
Having judged WOW after her win, she re-entered in 2007, to demonstrate that an MS diagnosis did not limit her, and came runner-up.
Subsequently, she became a sought-after international stylist.
Her portfolio included work for Chanel, Swarovski, Harvey Nichols, Estée Lauder, and others. Her work was featured in the ProtestMS exhibition at Art Dubai in 2008, and she served as a fashion judge for the Dubai World Cup in 2013.
In an earlier interview with Mindfood, Kingsbury said, ‘I don’t feel it’s discouraging to talk honestly about the disease—honesty doesn’t have to be negative. Attitude is a conscious choice and for me is one of the few things in my body I have 100 per cent control over.’
In 2024, a severe MS attack left Kingsbury paralysed, unable to eat, drink or speak. She was, however, fully aware of her surroundings.
Returning home to her native New Zealand required the family to book 11 seats to accommodate her stretcher and support crew, but the costs soared to over US$100,000.
The page remains open for donations.
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