Is Miss Namibia all it can be?

Last weekend saw Selma Kamanya crowned as Miss Namibia 2018, amid some detractors taking to social media to lambaste the quality of the pageant, which has in the past produced the sole local Miss Universe winner Michelle McLean.

Questions were raised on platforms like Facebook as the pageant unfolded last Saturday, about whether the right kind of winner is being chosen to represent Namibia on the world stage and whether the competition has become stale and uninspiring.

tjil spoke to two former Miss Namibia title holders from different eras on the state of the event and here is what they had to say.



Patricia Hoeksema: Miss Namibia 1995

tjil (T): Do you believe the Miss Namibia beauty pageant is of the necessary quality and stature to ensure that the appropriate representative is crowned for international pageants?

Patricia Hoeksema (PH): The stature and quality of the Miss Namibia pageant ensures that the Miss Namibia that is crowned is a worthy winner. However, whether the Miss Namibia beauty pageant or any other pageants in Namibia enjoy the same prestige and support as they do in many other countries is arguable. It is clear that for many of the countries participating in international pageants such as Miss Universe and Miss World, tremendous investments are made behind setting these ladies up for success. This ranges from mounds of expensive clothing, makeup and professional coaching, to plastic surgery in extreme cases. While I personally believe that such extreme measures are not justifiable, particularly for a small and developing country like Namibia where we certainly have more pressing priorities, this is the reality of what Miss Namibia will be competing against when she participates in these international competitions.



T: Would you say the brand Miss Namibia has grown over the years?

PH: The importance that the Miss Namibia brand plays in Namibian society has not necessarily grown, possibly attributable to Namibians' increased access to global celebrities in this time where social media has made the world one. However, the brand Miss Namibia has grown in terms of legacy, as the number of Miss Namibias making a contribution towards society in one way or another, have grown.



T: Do you believe we can do better in terms of organising creativity around the pageant?

PH: One should always strive to do better, but it is also important to live within your means, and therefore, based on the resources available for the Miss Namibia pageant, I have to trust that the organisers have delivered the best product within their means.



Odile Gertze: Miss Namibia 2010

T: In your view, what kind of contestant would do well on the global stage?

OG: The type of contestant that would do well in any international pageant is one that is dedicated to see it through to the end. Sometimes in the pageant industry, it can get a little bit difficult and the pressure can mount to such an extent where you feel like you are about to crack. At the end of the day, you need to want to have this. On top of that you need consistency, you need to collaborate with industry experts and get the right mentorship. You need to know and love your country. Your first priority is to be an ambassador for Namibia and then a contestant.



T: What is the role of a Miss Namibia in your words?

OG: Miss Namibia is an ambassador to the country; she promotes Namibia within and outside our borders. She also spearheads important courses that need our attention. She works and uses this platform to raise awareness and funds to change mindsets in Namibia.