Naked Minki stumped
2006-08-07 23:14
Le Roux Schoeman
Cape Town - Top model Minki van der Westhuizen will lead the fact-finding mission herself after photographs appeared of her, stark naked, sitting in a bubble bath.
Minki says the photographs were taken before her 21st birthday party in February last year.
The photos of that merry evening must have been taken from the photo album of one of three female confidantes.
"I will probably be able to trace the photos," she said, but declined to name the three on the edge of the bath. She also said the photographs could have been stolen.
In the photos, Minki, who has travelled the world with her modelling career, sits in the bath, drinking champagne.
"I was preparing at the Mount Nelson hotel and the photos were taken the evening before my party at Rhodes House.
'I want to get to the bottom of this'
"I was excited about the evening and joked around with a couple of friends."
Reports of Minki's photographs started circulating a few days ago, but apart from descriptions she got from her agent, Andrew Farr, she hadn't yet seen them by Monday.
Minki, whose relationship with singer Pieter Smith ended in July, said although "this story will blow over", she would like to find out how the photographs became available.
"I'm going to ask questions; I want to see the photos and look on their computers - things like that. I just want to get to the bottom of this."
Asked about the photos, a shocked Smith said Minki didn't even want to allow him, during their relationship that lasted a couple of months, to take similar photos.
"It's sick - she's not that type of person," he said.
A couple of 'happy shots'
The owner of Max Models, Lyn Maxwell, who has known Minki since she was a teenager and who still works closely with her, said the model would never to anything "unsuitable".
Maxwell said if these were just a couple of "happy shots", taken in privacy, she didn't want to get involved.
The person who showed Die Burger the photos, said they hadn't been stolen.
"As far as I know, it's not a criminal affair," said the person, who talked to Die Burger on condition that he remained anonymous.
- Die Burger