HEINZ'S IDEAL WOMAN (The Star) 20 June 2002

So many woman are after Idols winner Heinz Winckler....but he has so little time.

During our interview yesterday, the  24-year old bachelor admitted to being attracted to one of his female fans at a meet-and greet session, but that it was more on a physical side than anything else. "There wasn't any time to get to know someone- and that's important," he said.

Winckler said he hoped one day to find a woman "who is going to make me want to be a better man"- a line from Jack Nicholson's character in the film As Good as it gets.

'I think two people who share their lives must be able to enhance and support each other's callings. Pressed on his idea of an ideal woman, he said: " I hope to find someone who will love me with all my faults. She must be able to love music and must be able to dance with me. "I need someone who loves the ocean as much as I do, because if i don't get to live by the ocean, I'll need to spend a lot of time there."

Once Winckler used to be able to sit in a restaurant and eat a meal without anyone disturbing him. But, since being crowned Idols King, his life is no longer his own. There was no chance of a quiet breakfast during an interview with The Star at the Bourbon Street Cafe in Rosebank yesterday. Within 10 minutes we were interrupted by a group of girls who wanted their picture taken with their idol. He smiled and greeted everyone, and didn't seem to mind that his bacon and eggs were getting cold.

On his way back to the table he was interrupted by a group of woman who told him how great they thought he was and how many votes they had cast for him. Eventually, public relations officer Dineo Mahloele intervened, and we continued. Winckler said his fame was only starting to register: "It really sank in at Gold reef City (on Monday) when I was surrounded by a lot of people. I think it was then that I experienced those moments of fame. It was a most overwhelming but exciting experience.

"I haven't had much sleep over the past few weeks, but I'm not complaining because this is all part of the game. "What is it about Music that Winckler - a law student - loves so much, I asked. "It's that feeling you get when you hear a good song, whether it's the beautiful lyrics or something that moves you from the moment you hear it. Music is a language on it's own, capable of transcending borders and cultures. I feel alive when I listen to it, dance to it and make it."

He felt very chuffed that he was able to learn and record his debut song Once in a lifetime in only four hours. "It was quite challenging but I had a lot of fun. I think it's going to be popular cause it has a very catchy tune". The next few months are certain to be a testing time for Winckler, but he isn't stressing out too much because he believes his faith will get him through. "I make sure that every day I set aside quiet time so that I can pray and ask for guidance and wisdom," he said

Winckler got hooked on music at a young age, and recalled getting a Bruce Springsteen CD with his first Walkman, which inspired him to sing along. Hopefully it won't be long before we get to hear his own CD's