STYLE icon and Diamond Face Couture co-owner Uyanda Mbuli, right, is suing blogger Mika Stefanos for defamation.

STYLE icon and Diamond Face Couture co-owner Uyanda Mbuli, right, is suing blogger Mika Stefanos for defamation.

This after Stefanos wrote that Mbuli's partner, Gert Coetzee, was ditching her because he could no longer stand working with her. He said he was happy that Coetzee "had broken free from that dragon".

Yesterday Mbuli's publicist, Simphiwe Majola, confirmed she had instructed her lawyer to pursue a defamation case against Stephanos.

Mbuli's lawyer, Chris Mamathuntsha, said the tensions between Mbuli and Coetzee had to do with the running of the business, not what Stefano had alluded to.

The tensions started last month when Mbuli's lawyers asked for an audited account of the business from Coetzee. Majola said other than that the business was running as usual.

"Uyanda is entitled to protect herself from any type of victimisation and harassment. She has worked too hard to allow such malice and people defaming her and cheapening her brand," Majola said.

Majola said Mbuli believed in Coetzee's ability and saw DFC as a lifestyle brand bigger than herself.

Mbuli refused to comment yesterday, referring us to her lawyer and publicist.

Coetzee also said he needed to consult his lawyer.