By Surihe Gaomas
WINDHOEK
Sitting behind a desk in an eight-to-five office job was the last thing in the mind of former Miss Namibia 2006 Anna Nashandi. But there she was, learning the ropes in her first ever job in her home country.
“I’m surprising myself each and everyday and I see this as another new chapter in my life. It’s about building up experience and I love it,” Nashandi enthused during a recent interview with New Era.
Since November last year, the former Miss Namibia 2006 has been working as a Marketing Consultant at Namibia Wildlife Resorts in the capital, in the Sales and Marketing Department.
Still wearing her bright smile and glowing in her friendly charm, Nashandi was all too eager to welcome another phase in her life, when she recently handed over her crown as Miss Namibia to current holder Marichen Luiperth at a glamorous event in Windhoek on May 9.
Although many people might think that Miss Namibia is a title to be worn by proud people with stuffy noses and a heavy dose of arrogance, for 23-year-old Anna Nashandi it was carrying her yearlong fame with a ready smile and modest demeanour.
It was not about handing over the crown, but rather “expanding the crown” and adding more people to the family of the Miss Namibia beauty pageant. So the question is how has Anna Nashandi’s reign been?
Before responding, she first leans forward in a cross-legged position and lets out a warm laugh with her big silver hoop earrings shaking in tune.
From the look of things, it appears that Nashandi’s personality has grown tremendously during her reign as Miss Namibia 2006. She’s become a more compassionate, wiser and well-rounded person.
“Although quite challenging at times, the past year has without doubt been one of the most fulfilling years of my life. The year has been a test of my character and has definitely played a vital role in shaping the Anna Nashandi you see today,” she said during a recorded version of her message at the Miss Namibia 2007 event.
“I have always believed that growth and touching peoples’ worlds is a very important part of life and being Miss Namibia has helped me do just that. I realized that no matter how small a gesture seemed to me, it meant more than the world to someone else,” she added further.
For her being a sociable person it was not difficult to make many new friends along the way. The most touching moments Nashandi recalls was at an organization called Hope Village, where sad tales of little children revealed volumes about the devastation of HIV/Aids in the country.
“People have been so fantastic with me and they still are. I’ve learnt the strength of my own character and getting to know different people and the country as a whole. Working with Hope Village aims at fighting HIV/Aids and in turn alleviating poverty and has truly opened my eyes to the serious step all of us as Namibians need to take in order to lift our country to the next steps of development.”
Having built such valuable contacts with people, Nashandi feels that her projects will not end there but will continue to nurture existing relationships.
“If you want to do something, it should not be limited to a time period. So for me, the projects are not ending at all, because I will still go to children’s homes occasionally on Sundays just for short visits just as a gesture of friendship,” added Nashandi, feeling that she has learnt not just to handle the crown of Miss Namibia 2006 as a title, but made it part of herself.
In that way, it remains a living memory of one’s personality. “Miss Namibia 2006 has been one of those moments which you think will never happen and then it does. That’s why 2006 will always remain with me as a very, very special year,” she said with another broad smile.
Before, Miss Namibia 2006 had her own year already planned out for her, but now that her reign is over, what are her plans for the future?
Prior to being crowed Miss Namibia 2006, Nashandi as a diplomat’s child was out of her home country for 11 years in Angola, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Yet now with a sound job and high ambitions – what is in store for Nashandi?
Well, it seems this young lady’s ambitions are still her studies, but she still has to find the perfect balance between her favourite fields of psychology and the diverse world of media.
“Now is the time to see what my future possibilities are and take what I gained through the year and make the most of it. My possibilities are wide open,” she noted candidly.
As she prepares to open the door into the next phase of her life, Nashandi is glad that her reign was a fulfilling one.
“The year (2006) has been one of overwhelming self-discovery, an examination of strength and belief. It has allowed me to exercise all aspects of my personality and execute all levels of my intelligence and understanding,” she said.
Before ending her interview with New Era, Nashandi was quick to add that she has already exchanged contact numbers with Miss Namibia 2007 Marichen Luiperth and is confident that she will also have a very fruitful reign.
“I think she will do great and she is a well-grounded and intelligent person. She is what the judges perceived as a perfect balance between beauty and intelligence, so I wish her all the best,” she concludes with a smile.