There are conflicting views about the role of beauty pageants in general, with some people arguing that there is too much objectification of women and trying to create a narrative on the “standards” of what beauty is.
The Miss Namibia beauty pageant, which has been in existence since 1980 with Bernice Tembo as the first queen, has changed over the years with contestants coming up with certain causes to address societal problems, among others.
Hazel !Garus-Oas, who is among the Top 10 Miss Namibia 2024 contestants, says she advocates the holistic well-being of the Namibian child under the theme ‘The Art Of Health’. She added that the cause is rooted in the World Health Organisation’s definition which emphasises that health is not merely the absence of disease, but it is inclusive of physical, mental and social wellbeing.
“I want to raise awareness about the importance of art in childhood, and advocate pro-bono art programmes. I aim to do this through visiting different art centres and speaking to both the facilitators and the students about the positive impacts of being in a creative space as a child, and having these interactions visually documented and shared on social media platforms,” she stated.
!Garus-Oas has already hit the ground running, reaching out to individuals she can contact within these respective departments, and hopes to make some progress soon.
Another top 10 finalist Jodie-Lee Barnard says she is thrilled to be among the top Miss Namibia finalists. She is dedicated to educating young women to prepare nutritious meals.
“Throughout this journey, my focus is on conscious women empowerment. I aim to help young women discover their unique skills and talents, fostering confidence along the way. I will be dedicated to educating young women to prepare nutritious meals and using ingredients to their full potential to reduce food wastage,” said the energetic Barnard, who is a qualified chef.
Securing a spot and someone who raises awareness on the impact of being fatherless on children is Georgia Garises.
She indicated: “I would love to provide support services and programmes for fatherless children and their families. I plan to use my skills as a radio production student to have radio programmes that can include counselling from social workers, mentorship and education programmes that help children cope with the emotional and practical challenges associated with growing up without a father.”
She strongly believes that encouraging fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives is essential, as it can have a significant positive impact on a child’s development and well-being.
A throbbing pain for Namibians right now is homelessness, with contestant Ruusa Angula saying addressing this complex issue requires attention and action.
She said: “Through my low-cost housing initiative, ‘Shanty Town’, my vision is to eradicate homelessness in Namibia, providing assistance to those in need, restoring dignity, health and well-being, dignified shelter, comfort and sanitation facilities, access to social workers on-site, access to substance and alcohol abuse treatment,” she added.
-psiririka@nepc.com.na