Pricilla Mukokobi
Hilma Nalupe
Poise, grace, confidence, and authenticity are some of the qualities exuding through Namibia’s stubborn dreamer, Johanna Swartbooi, as she struts the runway stage at the 74th Miss Universe in Pak Kret, Thailand.
From the swimwear to the national costume, which pays homage to the craftsmanship of Namibia’s seven distinct indigenous groups and key ecological symbols, Miss Namibia celebrates the Land of the Brave’s anthropology and ecology.
The costume, designed by Silvanus Nepolo, symbolises Namibia’s unity and cultural pride. At its core, the outfit represents the togetherness of the country’s many tribes while honouring resilience, identity, and tradition.
According to the chief executive officer of Miss Namibia Organisation, Umbi Karuaihe-Upi, they are happy to showcase the country’s traditions, customs, and cultures through fashion and pageantry.
“This enhances the value of the platform. As you have seen, we have united the entire Namibian population through its national costume. The narrative reflected through her national costume brings pride, joy, knowledge, and belonging to the people of Namibia,” she said.
Design concept
In a statement issued by the organisation, the crown and cape are inspired by the iconic Quiver Tree, known for its strength and resilience in harsh conditions. The cape features a vivid image of a Quiver Tree at sunset, capturing Namibia’s majestic landscape and enduring spirit. The crown, adorned with a beaded headband and a diamond-shaped centrepiece, reflects the nation’s bright, shining spirit.
“Around her neck, Swartbooi wore a colourful necklace made from ostrich shell and traditional beads in yellow, orange, blue, green, red, and brown. These vibrant colours represent harmony across cultures. The corset includes intricate Khoisan beadwork and flowing coiled beads that celebrate femininity and cultural artistry. Its skin-toned base is a tribute to her Khoisan heritage,” said the statement.
Model and fashion designer Nepolo said the creation of Miss Namibia’s national costume took nearly two months. The design concept was illustrated initially by JC, a local photographer, in collaboration with Swartbooi.
“As a fellow model, Swartbooi approached me with the concept she had in mind. She explained her vision, and from there we began working on the costume together,” Nepolo said.
He shared that designing a national costume has always been a dream of his, especially after seeing the remarkable designs showcased by previous Miss Namibia titleholders.
“I am very proud of myself and truly honoured to have been entrusted with creating a national costume,” he added.
Nepolo said the design was inspired by Namibia’s unique beauty, rich biodiversity, and cultural heritage elements that Swartbooi wanted reflected in her appearance on the international stage.
National support
The Namibian house has rallied behind Swartbooi following a spate of cyberbullying and hate speech recently.
Minister of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), Emma Theofelus, posted a video on social media urging Namibians to rally behind Miss Namibia as she represents the country, and to cast their votes in her favour.
MICT’s interim executive director, Linda Aipinge, also issued a statement calling on the public to support Miss Namibia without tribal discrimination. “The ministry strongly condemns any form of tribalism or discriminatory behaviour directed towards her. Such actions stand in direct opposition to the values of unity, dignity, and national pride that we uphold as a nation,” she said.
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare similarly used his social media platforms to encourage the public to support Swartbooi.
At the same time, Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, posted a video encouraging Swartbooi to do her best and represent the country with pride.
Additionally, make-up artist Renate Shikongo, who began a voting initiative in 2023 during Jameela Uiras’ reign, has continued her efforts this year for Swartbooi.
She urged the public to vote directly on the Miss Universe app or, for those struggling with the process, to send funds to her so she can vote on their behalf. “I did research on the pageant and realised that there was a gap; we were not aware that we could put our candidate into the top 30. At first, I was encouraging Namibians to vote, but some people felt the process was a little tedious, so I decided to do it myself,” Shikongo said.
For transparency, she posts proof of payments received and proof of voting on her social media pages.She said Namibians have been very supportive of the initiative so far and continues to urge those able to vote to do so.
Shikongo added that Swartbooi has been a great candidate who has represented Namibia well, and she hopes the initiative will help her advance in the competition.
-pmukokobi@nepc.com.na