From the City of Gold to the heart of Berlin, South African superfan Alexa De Gouveia’s dedication was rewarded when Justin Timberlake signed her poster mid-set
Berlin, Germany (18 July 2025) – How far are you willing to travel to watch your favourite singer perform live?
A proudly South African moment at Lollapalooza in Berlin proves once again that when South Africans set their sights on something, nothing can stand in the way. Not even 9,600 kilometres.
Meet Alexa De Gouveia, a 49-year-old Justin Timberlake superfan from Johannesburg who turned her dream moment into international headlines. Alexa has followed Justin Timberlake for over two decades and has attended every one of his tours since 2014. She says his music has helped her through a lot over the years.
Lollapalooza is one of the world’s biggest and most iconic music festivals, known for its star-studded line-ups. Initially founded in the U.S, the festival has grown into a global event, with editions in cities like Berlin, Paris, and São Paulo.
So when JT hit the stage at Lollapalooza Berlin this past weekend, Alexa was right there in the crowd, 9,600 kilometres from home, holding up a sign. It read “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who flew the furthest of them all? Came 6000 miles from South Africa.”
That poster caught Justin Timberlake’s eye mid-set. Right there, in front of thousands of fans, he stopped to sign it. The crowd erupted, and a magical moment was sealed.
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But wait, there’s more! The story did not end there. Rolling Stone Germany picked up the moment in their coverage of the festival, calling it a “goosebump moment.” Other German publications soon followed, all celebrating the dedication of this South African fan who travelled across continents to watch Justin Timberlake.
So here’s to you, Alexa, for reminding us that South Africans always find a way to show up, stand out, and shine on the world stage.
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