By Lauren Mannering and Sholain Govender
As you cast your vote on April 14, die manne in Klerksdorp will be casting their eyes on scantily dressed meisies vying for the first-ever title of Miss South Africa Striptease.
This bastion of Afrikanerdom, more renowned for the fact it is the home of more churches, per capita, than any other place in the country, will be offering R40 000 as first prize for the country's best kaalgat meisie.
That's the deal: to qualify, you have to be starkers.
As the organisers put it, the competitors "will in a nutshell be judged on teaseability".
Nikola Ivanov, 45, an eccentric Bulgarian resident in South Africa for the past eight years, is the organiser of the pageant and the owner of Le Chic, the club where the event will be held.
"It's a gentleman's exclusive club. That's what I tried to make and I think to a big percentage I've succeeded," he said, showing off his cigar collection which he boasts is the largest in North West province.
He opened the club last year February amid much cynicism.
"My friends said I'm mad," Ivanov said laughingly, swinging his dark braid over his shoulder. He wanted the club to be to his taste and to be run his way. "I don't like, I don't allow," he said. "I like everything to be my way, I don't say 'right way', I say 'my way'!"
A trained economist and a regular customer at such establishments, Ivanov recognised a gap in the market in Klerksdorp and decided to open the club. Surprisingly there were no complaints from any of the numerous churches for which conservative Klerksdorp is famed.
Ironically, Ivanov is somewhat conservative himself. "I don't drink, I don't smoke," he says. He just likes naked ladies and feels there's nothing wrong with watching.
The dancers and the patrons have to behave according to his rules. If they cross the line, they are shown the door. The dancers are fined for transgressions.
The main rule governing Le Chic is: "No Touching". Posters stuck on the mirrors lining the bright lime-green walls of the dimly lit club attest to this "eyes full, hands empty" policy that he enforces religiously.
The rules help to create the relaxed atmosphere in the club. "When you come in the club you behave... let's all enjoy our time."
Of his customers he says in his rather quaint English: "Many people I know them by the face."
Miss SA Striptease is being advertised nationally as the "hottest competition for strippers" and applications are pouring in.
Only 50 girls will be eligible to compete for the title this year and the first place prize of R40 000. Second prize is R20 000 and third is R10 000. The prize money was sponsored by a Le Chic client who wishes to remain anonymous.
The grand finale of the Miss SA Striptease will be held on June 2 when the winner will be crowned.
Paula de Pinho of Executive Entertainment, an agency used by Ivanov to arrange the competition, says the "girls" will be judged on:
- Personality - they have to put on a happy face E a smile is always welcoming.
- Costume - you can tell immediately if the girl is professional or not by her costume.
- Theme - usually based on some fantasy that guys have, like schoolgirls, air hostesses and secretaries.
- Choreography.
- Presentability - the dancers have to be clean and well groomed.
- Makeup - important because it is a good indicator of the dancer's professionalism.
- Sensuality - which is "very similar to teaseability". ("At the end of the day that's what guys are looking for," says De Pinho); and
- Crowd response
Each contestant will have 20 minutes to impress the judges, who include the local dominee and two magistrates. Okay, we lie: the organisers are inviting judges from Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom.
Skin magazines Loslyf and Hustler are also expected to supply judges. To avoid any hanky-panky, judges will be changed for each heat.
Rain, who has been a dancer for four months, says it is in her blood.
"My mom was a dancer... I love dancing," she says proudly and confidently as she stepped onto the stage to join Niki (relatively a veteran of one year and two months).
Both had "Catwoman" as their themes.