Shilpa, Katrina to crown Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa

By Fakir Hassen

Johannesburg, May 22 (IANS) Bollywood actresses Shilpa Shetty and Katrina Kaif will help decide which of 16 South African hopefuls follow in their footsteps when the Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa is crowned at the prestigious Montecasino entertainment complex here Saturday evening.

Shilpa and Katrina will join former Miss Universe Michelle McLean and former Miss South Africa Joanne Strauss, now a TV presenter, as the finalists vie for a prize package that could also feature an audition for a Bollywood role.

Providing a gender balance to the panel of celebrity judges will be Fashion TV owner Michele Adam and Francois Pienaar, who led the South African side to victory in the Rugby World Cup some years ago. Pienaar has also played an instrumental role in the marketing campaign that made the Indian Premier League (IPL) so popular in South Africa for the past five weeks.

The 16 finalists were chosen by Internet votes and include models, actresses, professionals and students. They were chosen from the 48 who were selected from the crowds at each of the IPL games played across the country.

The prize package includes a cash prize of 50,000 rands, a trip to India, and a guided tour of Bollywood, including the possibility of an audition there.

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