IPL beauty reaches out to kids
Kossatz’s mission to help youth
FIVE years after being crowned Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa, Dune Kossatz has taken a backseat in the entertainment industry with her heart set on helping children.
The East London-born former model and actress was crowned Miss Bollywood Indian Premier (IPL) League South Africa in 2009, after being selected while attending an IPL cricket match at Buffalo Park between Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Chargers. She was chosen at random, when the television cameras focused on her in the crowd and, according to the Daily Dispatch in 2009, was one of 48 hopefuls from around the country who competed for the title.
The former Grens High School pupil said winning the competition was an amazing experience that led to her finding a a deeper meaning to life. “Since winning Miss Bollywood I decided to go more within. I used to live a life in front of the camera and out of suitcases working for 14 years in the modelling world.
“I have since taken a back seat and do visits to India once a year,” she said.
Kossatz, 40, left the Eastern Cape for Europe when she was only 18 years old.
Since her departure, she has had modelling jobs in Europe and the United States.
She returned to South Africa about eight years ago and made Cape Town her home. Her mother lives in Morgan’s Bay, while her father resides in East London.
Kossatz started her visits to India in 2010, a year after winning the pageant. “One of the prizes I won from the competition was an opportunity to do a screen test for a Bollywood movie but that never materialised.”
Kossatz then decided to open a clothing store. “My visits to India were first inspired by my search for international brands to import,” she said.
The mother of two currently runs a boutique in Camps Bay.
“My visits to India have been a huge wake-up call from the glamorous world I’ve been living in.
“I wept everyday seeing little