Jo-Ann Cindy Strauss (born 3 February 1981 in Cape Town) is a South African model, public speaker, businesswoman and beauty pageant titleholder. In 2001 she represented her country as Miss South Africa at the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico as well as at the Miss World pageant hosted at Sun City in her home country in 2001.[1] She was featured in the 2001 music video of the Irish pop group Westlife's single "When You're Looking Like That".
In 2008, Strauss spearheaded the Princess Project[4] to give deserving young ladies the chance to go to their "Matric Balls" or "Proms" in designer dresses previously owned by South Africa's top celebrities. The idea behind her initiative was born of the fact that she herself went to her Matric Dance in a "previously-loved" designer dress which she bought with her mother at a second-hand store.
Strauss is one of South Africa's most respected media personalities and uses her profile and influence to help various initiatives. Her Princess Project has been supported by many South African and now international stars and has given dresses to over 80 young ladies thus far with the help of SA's top magazines YOU, Huisgenoot and Drum as well as Top Billing.
She partnered with the International Fashion Sale in 2010 and reached even more deserving young ladies in SA.[5] Similar initiatives exist around the world, enabling young girls to feel like modern princesses.
In 2014, Strauss was appointed a Celebrity Advocate for international child rights organization, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in South Africa.