Starring roles in 12 movies and four TV series, appearances in six music videos, the presenter gig on weight-loss reality show SLANK, a bestselling self-help book, Comfortable in Your Own Skin(Random House Struik; R139), second place in Strictly Come Dancing2014, two Huisgenoot Tempo Awards, magazine covers, motivational talks, and her own fashion line… everything Leandie du Randt Bosch, 29, touches turns to platinum. And perhaps it was always thus.
“I was born a performer. At age two I was dancing and singing, with an imaginary microphone in my hand,” she laughs. “Then came the stage when I pretended a TV crew was trailing me around our house in Makwassie. My mom filmed it all, so I became very comfortable with cameras; now, if there isn’t one in my face, I’m almost like ‘Where is it?’”
Despite her obvious predilection for performing, Leandie signed up to study Industrial Psychology at the University of Johannesburg. “My dad wanted me to have a stable career, and I’m fascinated by what makes people tick,” she says.
Whatever the intentions, however, all roads led to show business. During her first year of studies, Leandie won Miss Personality at a university beauty pageant. “The prize was a drama course with Brümilda van Rensburg, and she encouraged me to attend auditions. Around 12 months after that, I landed my first role in the series Getroud Met Rugby.”
Since then, her career has been the stuff of dreams – and there’s no sign of any let-up. The new year will see the release of the comedies Vuil Wasgoed and Thys and Trix(which she produced with her husband, the singer Brouwer Bosch and The Film Factory). And she’s working on her accents and sending out audition tapes, all with an eye on the international market.
Then, there’s her clothing line, Skoonma, which she intends turning into one of Africa’s biggest online stores. “Skoonma started as a way to create work for my mother-in-law,” she says. “But it expanded so fast that I was soon hiring more seamstresses. Now, the more it grows, the more jobs will grow with it.”
So what, you may wonder, is the secret sauce behind Leandie’s incredible success – outside of the obvious ingredients of talent, hard work and vision? Gratitude, she says.
“Appreciation makes me even more positive, and gratitude opens me up to blessing and change.”
Follow Leandie on Instagram.
See all the 2017 GLAMOUR Women of the Year winners here.
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