Model turns heads on Talent Africa catwalk
He was scouted by Global Castings and selected for the SA team
Toti model and dancer Jan Strydom (29) excelled in the national competition of Talent Africa at Roodepoort from 21 to 26 March.
Jan was awarded provincial colours in the performing arts from Federation of Performing Arts South Africa after scooping third place in the male modelling section. He won gold for runway, gold for formal, silver for swimwear and bronze for casual.
He also won the following medals in the photographic section: Gold for headshot, silver for catalogue print and silver for commercial print.
He was scouted by Global Castings and selected for the SA team, but unfortunately cannot afford the R56,000 needed to fly to New York.
“I never saw myself as a model,” said Jan. “I was a dancer for six years and a member of D and C Dance Studio and Rhythmic Dance Studio. A friend saw me on social media and advised me to join Mobile Model Management.
I was very surprised, as I was not expecting to do so well as a model at Talent Africa. It’s all about having a great attitude and stage presence, not how you look.”
Jan was born in Durban, but made Toti his home five years ago. He has performed at The Playhouse, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Catalina Theatre and Barnyard Theatre over the years in cabaret, hip hop and break dancing. He won a silver medal at the KZN Dance Fest and bronze at the Rhythmic Dance Fest, before turning his focus to modelling where he scooped the runner-up award at a modelling competition at Grosvenor Boys High School in 2014.
“I decided to take a break from dancing and enter the Talent Africa regionals for the first time.” Jan was scouted after his first walk. “I was nervous before I went on, but felt overwhelmed when I was scouted.
I would like to go into acting. It’s a pity I can’t afford to go overseas at this stage, as I wouldn’t mind at least one role in a movie.
In five years’ time I would like to be starring in Afrikaans movies, as it is my first language. I would like to stay in South Africa though and make it my base.
Thank you to everyone for their support at Talent Africa, especially my friends, family, Krystle Temmerman and Shawn Ashcroft,” said Jan.
