India Models

Goan Belle

Goan Belle

She is the reigning queen of the Lakme and MTV Model Mission Contest, and more recently, the Kingfisher Model of the Year.

She was actually christened Waltraudt, but "mum’s better judgment prevailed and so they came up with Waluscha".

To set the record straight, her name is Waluscha Sousa ("and not D’Souza !").

She has a proverbial million-dollar smile and a dark black mole that really hits the spot.

Incidentally, Waluscha, phonetically derived means "lady of the woods", I am not so sure about the woods, but lady, she definitely is.

At 19, this part-German, part-Goan, Indian by birth, culturally hybrid by nature, has come a long way from the woods, into the fashion circuit with an alacrity that has put most 19 year-olds in awe of her.

How is this babe handling life in the fast lane ?

Everything is happening so fast, I’m taking each moment as it comes," is the well-practised and thoroughly worn out reply.

She auditioned to, "launch Goan beauty into the fashion world by Wendell Rodricks and Hemant Trevedi."

A couple of weeks of hard training and big-time introductions into the inner circle and her tutors were convinced Waluscha was ripe for the picking. She was launched.

At heart, she claims to be a simple, determined, very down-to-earth, private person and "would hate herself if it all went to her head".

Naivety ?

Perhaps. Practised ? Probably. Endearing, nonetheless.

Does this package come built in with brains?

You decide. She is studying psychology at St. Xavier’s, Mumbai and wants to take up clinical psychology after graduation. So, I am confused, does she want to be a model or a shrink ?

She bursts into a little giggle, "Everyone asks me the same question. But I really want to study the human mind and behaviour because it intrigues me, although I may not want to practise."

And what does she do when she’s not running around doing shoots and waling the ramps ?

She sleeps late ! "Sometimes, I read, or watch a movie, surf the net or workout for a while. But I’m more of a homing bird."

Her favourite eatery ?

"Indigo." She likes to spend her money on clothes, shoes and make-up; and while we’re on the topic – she mentioned she liked hers figure hugging. So do we !

A quick update on the filmi rumours

"I have received a couple of offers but at this point, I’m not really interested in jumping onto the Bollywood bandwagon."

And the personal life ?

Evasive, but, emphatically, "I don’t want to talk about my private life." Her silence speaks volumes. She rapidly changes the topic and moves onto life in the big bad city.

"Coming from Goa, I hate it. I can’t stand the pollution and the traffic. But the people are nice." That was it. I was glad I had left her personal life for the end, because really, after that question, that was it.