Chasing the crown: Miss Namibia unveils Top 20 finalists

Entertainment Reporter

THE Miss Namibia Organisation (MNO) has unveiled the Top 10 finalists for the Miss Namibia adult category as well as Miss Teen. 

The 20 contestants are currently travelling the country, covering the Kavango and Zambezi regions. On 15 May 2024, the finalists journeyed to the Mbunza Living Museum.

The museum is situated approximately 14 km west of Rundu and is a reconstructed traditional village of the Kavango, who have lived in the area for centuries. The beauty queens were introduced to the traditional ways of the Kavango people, which include traditional cuisine, fire making, basket and mat weaving, bushwalks, fishing, and highly specialized techniques like blacksmithing, pottery, and drum making.

Umbi Karuaihe-Upi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Organisation, said that the Miss Namibia Organisation wishes to make it a point to promote Namibia’s diverse cultures as well as its beautiful landscape to promote the country to the world and to build a sense of identity among the youth, which she says is the organisation’s target market. She added that the main Miss Namibia event will take place on 20 July 2024, while the Miss Teen event will take place on 19 July 2024. This year, the pageant only selected 20 semi-finalists as opposed to 30 candidates chosen last year for the final showdown. The Top 10 finalists for Miss Namibia 2024 are Prisca Anyolo, Ruusa Angula, Otja Unanisa, Aurelia Samuyenga, Jodie-Lee Barnard, Naomi Kamenye, Lenna Mugena, Preclina Sagarias, Georgia Garises, and Hazel !Garus-Oas. 

The top 10 finalists for the Miss Teen 2024 category are Caitlin Bosman, Felan Shipena, Queen Sheeya, Shanay Viljoen, Jamin Antonius, Elaine Engelbrecht, Uveniko Negongo, Loreece Kaffer, Miazuda Hill, and Twamona Luhepo.

Only the national winner of Miss Namibia 2024 will be sent to Miss Universe 2024, which will take place in Mexico in September 2024. The first and second runners-up will not represent Namibia at any international stage this year. Any further announcements will be made accordingly, should the need arise. “Our aim is to create a stepping stone for Namibian youth and women to excel in their respective fields of interest and to prepare outstanding leaders for our country. Additionally, the MNO endeavours to honour our titleholders with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase their excellence. The pageants are expensive and take tremendous input from all stakeholders to achieve intended goals. Therefore, the organization will ensure that its titleholders compete on an equal standing with all other international participants,” Karuaihe-Upi said.