Local beauty set for India

CASANDRA ‘Ducky’ Stead is jetting off to India for a bit of business and pleasure on her first trip out of the country as a one of six cheerleaders for the KKK Pepsi IPL cricket team.

Cassandra, who has been involved in the dancing scene for the last eight years, has in her first 15 months of completing Grade 12, in 2012, been placed as a Miss Ushaka Finalists. This is some feat considering there were more than 600 entrants at the event.

By May 2013, after working for Marge B at Events Styling Co, she was appointed as personal assistant to the director, Marge, herself.

At the Miss Summer Heat Regional Round for KZN, Cassandra won the dance category in the 18-25 age group.

At the regionals, she was scouted by a representative from ‘Just You Model Agency SA’ and was invited to participate at the National ARTS Showcase in JHB, performing in front of the acclaimed International Talent Scout, Kim Myers, Head of ARTS International from Orlando, Florida.

Cassandra competed in the categories of dance and modeling where she excelled beyond expectations. After an intense two days of auditioning and a long Showcase featuring all the participants, 481 in total, she received her first callback at midnight and subsequently, to cut a long story short, was placed in the team of 60 selected from around South Africa and neighboring states to attend the International ARTS Showcase.

This event is held every six months in Orlando, Florida and contestants from around the globe competed for placements and contracts from every international scout and agent imaginable.

The only other Zululander to have had this success is Shareen Down in the late 80s.

As if this was not enough to blow most peoples minds, in December she was crowned Miss Summer Heat SA 2013 at a gala event held in the Tropical Nights Theatre at The Wild Coast Sun.

Now Casandra is about to jet off today as a one of six cheerleaders for the KKK Pepsi IPL team who are playing in the IPL Cricket Championships.

Casandra will be in India for five weeks after which she flies to the States where she will spend some time at the ARTS Showcase in Florida and visit her brother Jason who is working as a chef in Florida.

‘I am over the moon with joy, I only found out two weeks ago that I had been selected to go to India. It is my first trip and I am nervous, but that will all pass once I get my feet on the plane on Monday,’ said an excited Casandra.

‘Everybody has been so supportive especially my family and although I will miss them, I know they are always with me .’