2015-09-23Staff Report 2 "Windhoek Stunning and charming, is how Linda Amadhila, recently crowned Miss Grand Namibia, comes across. All the way from Ongwediva, Amadhila is a second-year student at the University of Namibia studying Library and Information Sciences. She has always had a passion for beauty pageants. Her passion for pageantry was ignited when she won the title of Miss Ekulo 2008. She also scooped the 2014 Miss Ongwediva Trade Fair title after she was crowned first princess of the Miss Northern Side competition in 2012. The 23-year-old says growing up things weren’t always given to her on “silver platter”, but her parents and elder sisters always did their best to provide for her. “As a child, I was reserved and obedient, yet very happy and playful.” As the ambassador of the Changing Lives Foundation, her motto in life is to always stay true to her roots and to be the change we want to see in the world. “I believe that my family and God played an enormous role in who I am today, because if it wasn’t for their endless prayers, I wouldn’t be where I am right now,” she says. Apart from just being a “beauty queen”, her interests also lay in sports, leadership, camping, travelling, as well as spending time with family and friends. Laughter and positive thoughts are very important to her. “I also have a passion for health, education, as well as women and children at large, as I believe they are the core of my being and motivate me to live a purpose-driven life,” says Amadhila. The responsibilities of Miss Grand Namibia do not only involve displaying her beauty but also to establish programmes that empower young women to be the best they can be in all aspects of their lives by building leadership skills, enhancing skills in community development and empowerment through humanitarian service, such as the promotion of sexual abstinence education, social inclusion, national volunteering and also to be the voice of the voiceless and share issues of concern by being able to project a positive image of Namibia to the rest of the world. “It is in my mission, as the title holder of Miss Grand Namibia, to use this platform to be able to empower young girls not only nationally but internationally as well, through self-acceptance and increasing of self-esteem.” “Individually I believe in working together as a nation at large, as I cannot do this alone. So one of the many great contributions we can make to tackle such issues is by encouraging Namibian youth to join charity missions, livelihood seminars, the promotion of training and education, as well as the support of SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) among the youth through education, as they encourage positive attitudes and values towards work and workmanship, as well as entrepreneurship. I also believe [children] should be supported from a very early age in schools, through career counselling and other support services,” she says. In her free time she enjoys working alongside the Woman and Child Protection Unit of the Namibian Police to help eradicate the shocking scourge of baby dumping and child abuse, as well as gender-based violence (GBV). She will also be conducting a two-week roadshow throughout Namibia where she will have discussions with teenagers on sexual abstinence. She also does volunteer work. Her last voluntary assignment was at Windhoek Central Hospital at the children’s cancer ward, where she had a chance to work alongside one of Namibia’s upcoming entrepreneurs, Michael Amushelelo. In her spare time Amadhila enjoys reading motivational books, as well as her Bible. She will represent Namibia at the Miss Grand International Pageant in Thailand on October 25. “I would like to ask Namibia’s support as I embark on my journey, because I’m doing this not only for myself as an individual, but for the country at large. To my fellow youth out there, work hard towards whatever goal you want to pursue and never regret anything that makes you smile. Always keep God in first place, for he is the author and finisher of your faith,” she advises. " 2015-09-23Staff Report 2
