Emilie Shimbali

Mathilde Hinanifa was recently crowned first runner-up and received the best talent award of the first edition of Miss Premium Africa beauty competition.

Melissa Angélica of Equatorial Guinea was named the overall winner in Port Harcourt, Nigeria last week.

Participants from 15 African countries competed for the crown. 

“This is my first international pageant, and I am very happy because my dream turned into reality. The goal was to put Namibia on the map, as well as to challenge myself and use the opportunity to grow and bring hope to others,” she told VIBEZ!

“I’d like to thank my Namibian people for their love, sponsorship of funds and support throughout the competition.” 

Hinanifa (23) said she is not only bringing the crown home, but also a package of new skills from her experience. 

She has a strong desire to help young people with disabilities, and will soon launch her ‘Albinism with Pride’ project.

“I will be collaborating with the pageant organisers on my personal project Albinism with Pride in both Nigeria and Namibia.” 

She stated the competition was more than just a beauty pageant, adding it promotes African culture, reorient tourism values, promote sociocultural integration, promote peace, acquire and develop talents and skills, develop capacities for self-reliance, self-employment, and empower young women on the African continent.

The goal of the competition is to train young, patriotic ambassadors for African peace and development.

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