This long legged bomb shell and a finalist of Miss Namibia 2013 was born in a village near Ondangwa before moving to Usakos where she grew up with her father whom was working in the region at the time.
Tuyeni Linear Shikongo started her education at the Erongo Primary School and finished at West High School in Swakopmund. “Growing up I was very shy but came out of my shell when I was around my friends. I ran the 100, 200 and the 400 metres at school. I loved typing, mathematics and the science subjects at high school.”,
Due to poor results and to upgrade her matric results Tuyeni took the opportunity and moved to her mother in the North, and this is where she got back in touch with her cultural roots and practices. “Growing up in Usakos I had lost some culture and my Oshiwambo was poor. Moving to the North helped me enrich my mother tongue and learn a lot of cultural practices. I also got involved with a lot of community projects and was part of the ‘My Future is my choice team’.”
After a year-and-a-half Tuyeni moved to Swakopmund to stay with her sister. She soon found employment at a grocery store, as she did not have the funds to attend university after upgrading her matric results. Tuyeni was soon informed of the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund where she applied and received a loan, which she used to apply at the Polytechnic of Namibia.
Tuyeni attended The Polytechnic of Namibia in 2009 and enrolled for a Bechalors degree in Office Management and Technology. She showed little interest in modeling but was encouraged by her friends to take part in Miss Polytechnic and did not manage to win. Tuyeni was discouraged doing pageants and enrolled with a modeling agency in 2010. At the modeling academy they encouraged her to get back into pageants, and in 2011, while working part time for the Polytechnic of Namibia entered for the Miss Okapya Pageant in Ondangwa, which again she did not win.
“I come from a very musical family and at Polytecnhic had the privilege to be part of their choir.”
Down and out Tuyeni had literally no interest in taking part in pageants anymore. She was then once more encouraged to try out for the Miss Youth Namibia, where she ended just outside the top ten at 11th and in the process made some new friends in the industry. In 2012 Tuyeni packed up and moved to the coast after finding work as a Clerical Assistant at the Ministry of Education in Walvis Bay.
“I also teamed up with a business man in Windhoek, and opened a modeling agency in Walvis Bay where I worked with upcoming models getting them shows and gigs but also shared my experience with them and got them involved in community projects and making a difference.”
In December 2012 Tuyeni entered Miss Palm Beach and found herself competing against some of her friends she made in the industry, and with little hope of winning. To her surprise she was crowned Miss Palm Beach, which boosted her confidence tremendously. She also entered the Miss Celeb Spot 2012 beauty pageant for which she was crowned the queen and also took part in Miss 065 beauty pageant in which she was crowned as the 1st princess.Tuyeni soon entered the Miss Walvis Bay beauty pageant this April and was crowned the queen.
“My Miss Palm beach and Miss Walvis Bay titles t had connection to Miss Namibia and soon after got a call from the director of Miss Namibia and was encouraged to enter for the competition. I entered and was short listed for the top ten. It was a life changing experience and the girls where wonderful. We were treated like princess and got to meet a lot of people and visit a lot places.”
Tuyeni made it into the top ten finalists and did not go on to win the crown but took as much as she could from the experience, and today, it has opened up a lot of doors for the 23-year-old model. Today Tuyeni has graduated with a Diploma in Office Management and Technology from the Polytechnic of Namibia and plans to continue with her degree. She is currently involved in helping some communities in Walvis Bay.
Tuyeni palns on becoming an activist for women empowerment and to help needy communities. She advises the youth not to “give up, keep on trying, believe in yourself and you can do anything and make your dreams come true.”
By Kevin Kamati