Miss Namibia, made in SA

The Miss Namibia pageant has again shopped in South Africa as Miss Namibia 2016 prepares for this year’s Miss Universe pageant.
Lizelle Esterhuizen’s Miss Universe profile pictures were released yesterday, with her dress, make-up and the photography all done by South Africans. Last year, the pageant organisers attracted fierce criticism when Steffi van Wyk was dressed by a South African designer for the Miss World pageant.
Following the release of the photos, Miss Namibia national director Conny Maritz said the criticism was unnecessary and she had no comment.
According to the official Miss Namibia page, the photography was done by a South African, Krisjan Rossouw, while Esterhuizen’s leopard-print dress garment is by Philosophy, owned by Cape Town designer Jenni Button. Her make-up was also done by a South African.
The chairperson of the National Arts Council, Patrick Sam, described the use of non-Namibian designers, make-up artists and photographers as unfortunate and not in the interest of growing the local art industry.
“In the interest of promoting local art on an international platform, this is definitely an unfortunate situation, and in terms of growing the local arts industry, this is definitely not something that is favourable,” he said.


“The Namibian artist designed dresses in the pageant, so it sends the message that we are only good enough in our own country and not globally. If that’s the case then we really need to go back and interrogate whether it is because we are not connected, or that the Miss Namibia pageant is not connected to that extent of having faith and trust in Namibian fashion designers.
“What is the reason behind not using Namibians? I look at this design and it’s something Namibian artists can definitely produce or better, it’s definitely unfortunate as it’s not giving Namibian fashion designers the visibility that is attained at an international platform. It is definitely a step that is not in the interest of growing the arts industry.”
Sam said he knows of brilliant Namibian photographers and make-up artists.
Last year, while competing at the Miss World pageant, Steffi van Wyk wore at least four outfits made by South African fashion designers.
At least three of Steffi’s gowns were designed by South African fashion designer Ernst Venske, while another South African, Paul van Zyl, also contributed.
At the time, Maritz said local designers had not shown an interest in sponsoring gowns for the Miss Namibia winners.
“We depend on sponsored designs and many Namibians don’t want to give dresses for free,” she said.
Last year, businesswoman Hilda Basson-Namundjebo said while she understood that Namibia’s participation at international pageants must be expensive, she cannot “fathom how we justify our beauty queen being dressed by South African designers”.
Basson-Namundjebo said Miss Namibia is a symbol of pride and represents all things Namibian.

GORDON JOSEPH