Remembering WENDELL: Waluscha De Sousa

Waluscha De Sousa was a 16-year-old schoolgirl when fashion designer Wendell Rodricks discovered her. “Everything I am today is because of him. I was just a very confused girl, not knowing whether I wanted to be a lawyer like my father or to do clinical psychology. Wendell taught me everything I know, introducing me to the best of photographers, hair stylists and make-up artistes,” she says about the designer who passed away last month. The actor and model remembers her mentor who became a friend in the years to come…

First Impression

I was a 16-year-old eleventh standard girl when there was an ad in the newspaper that Wendell Rodricks is doing a big fashion show in Goa. He was bringing down some really big names like Madhu Sapre, Nina Manuel and Ujjwala Raut among others. He was also going to discover Goan talent, train them and they would get a chance to walk alongside these girls on the ramp. Although I was always a creative person with interest in acting and sports, I never thought of this. A friend of mine suggested I should apply. I didn’t even have make up! I met her half-way to the hotel and she put on some eye-liner and lip gloss on me. She told me to be late for my entry as “that makes all the impression”.

I remember going to the hotel and seeing this room full of 50-60 boys and girls, with Wendell talking to a few of them. I did enter late and I understood what she meant by her advice – although that formula doesn’t work anymore! (laughs) Everybody had to turn to look at me. So in that sense, I did create an impression. The ad had asked for Goan girls, but I am half-German and half-Goan. He said, ‘I don’t know if I should consider you because you’re not pure Goan!’ It was, of course, a joke. That was it. That was the beginning of it all.

Training Time