WINDHOEK– Those who believe that dreams don’t come true are living an untruth, so 24-year-old Beatrice Engelbretht believes.
And she is not without a reason in her believe as she stands soon to realise her long-held dream of becoming a star. Beatrice is one of top eight performers who are to represent Namibia at the Applause Arts Rising Talents Showcase (ARTS) in Orlando, Florida, in the United State of America (USA) on December 18-22.They are living on December 15 and are expected back on December 25.
Her journey as a TV presenter started out while young girl as she remember standing in front of a mirror with a comb in her hand which she mistook for a MIC. There she would do her very own impersonation of Bonang Matheba, whom up to this day is one of her TV presenter icons in Africa. In America it would be none other than Ryan Seacrest. “These are the people I look up to and that inspire me to work even harder to craft my talent,” says she.
Beatrice made her first public appearance as a TV presenter when she graced the stage of the Star Performer Competition. With the auditions, which she admits to be “most nerve wrecking one of the scariest things I have ever done,” now over, she sees ARTS as nothing else but “a window of greater opportunities that I needed to make the best of . So at the final round of the competition I kept on saying to myself be your best and be who God has made you to be or pack up and go home and going home was not an option so I went and did Beatrice the best way I know how I basically did my thing and the rest was history.”
Now as dreams would have it, she is part of the top eight who to represent Namibia in Orlando in Florida. “ I have been entered for five different categories Creative Runway, Photography Modeling, Drama, Dancing and Commercial. Now my aim and mission for this competition is to make a success out of all five categories,” she determines. “My support system from family and friends has been amazing due to them and most importantly God I am where I ought to be and that’s on top so thanks to everybody that has stood by me and that has believed in me since the very beginning. Last but not least I would like to thank Wilmien Chamberlin for scouting me through a phone call. Due to all the hard work and endless input I can now embark on the journey of my dreams,” she appreciates.
Born and bred here in Namibia, she is proud to be Namibian. “I sing, dance, present and so on and so forth. I’m the type of person that cannot be categorised into one thing, I’m an all rounder,” she describes herself adding that she is “the kind of person who likes to stand out amongst the crowed. In short I love being unique because being unique sets one person apart from the rest.” She further confidents that by 2014 she
will be a household name the best of me is yet to come watch the space………..”
Hilgard Brandt, who specialises in modeling, dance and drama, is the other Namibian representative. “I am very excited and thankful to be given this chance to go and showcase my talent overseas in major international markets as a triple theatre, modeling, dancing and act,” says Hilgard.
The Applause Arts Rising Talents Showcase is an operated international organization, with hand selected mother agencies, dance centres, performing arts organisations, theatre companies, and more that comes together to offer a unique week long experience of talent shows. ARTS is recognised by top industry leaders as simply the best and safest place in the world to pursue the entertainment industry, without spending one’s life’s savings or dollars meant for one’s education. He says during the star performer competition he saw a lot of talents in Namibia and all they need is a platform to make it big in the entertainment industry. “The chance to go big was given to me by Trustco’s Star Performer competition and I really appreciate it. I come from a sport background ‘soccer player’, so I did research on soccer players in the modeling industry and I found David Beckham is very successful soccer player and model, so if he can do it then I can do it also,” concludes Brandt.
By Sabina Elago