The TECNO sfx Makeup Challenge is live and it’s not playing around. No glass-skin soft glam here — just latex, fake blood and whatever else turns your face into a full-blown spectacle.
South Africa’s social feeds are about to get weird in the best way, as TECNO teams up with Edgars for a special effects makeup competition that’s more red carpet horror film than beauty pageant. Running until 14 July, the TECNO sfx Makeup Challenge invites creators, makeup artists and special effects obsessives to post their boldest looks for a shot at winning a TECNO SPARK 20 smartphone, a R5,000 Edgars voucher and other prizes.
It’s a smart move from a brand that’s been trying to earn cultural relevance in a crowded mid-range smartphone market. TECNO isn’t just pushing hardware — it’s positioning itself as a platform for creativity. By targeting the SFX community instead of the oversaturated beauty influencer crowd, it’s carving out space in an increasingly aesthetic, creator-led economy.
The rules are simple. Post your look on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or Twitter. Tag @tecnosouthafrica, @edgarsfashion, @edgarsconnect and @edgarsbeauty. Use the hashtags #TECNOsfxChallenge and #TECNOxEdgarsRedCarpet. Do it before 14 July. That’s it.
This challenge isn’t just about flexing prosthetics or cinematic scars. It’s about creators taking the tools of transformation and turning them into art. The looks TECNO wants are unapologetic, inspired by the tech brand’s loud design language and Edgars’ fashion-first approach to retail.
Of course, this is also very much a brand play. The TECNO SPARK 20, one of the prizes, is part of TECNO’s push to win over Gen Z buyers who care more about camera features and style than raw specs. You can find the phone in Edgars stores, Edgars Connect outlets and online. Pricing and stock may vary depending on location.
If TECNO wants to be more than just another budget smartphone name in South Africa, it needs cultural moments like this. The TECNO sfx Makeup Challenge might not reinvent the genre, but it’s a smart, hyper-visual way to signal that the brand understands its audience.
To enter or view the official competition post, click here.