Beautiful, intelligent and full of laughter are some of the ways to describe Miss Namibia 2018, Selma Kamanya. These also make her rather difficult to forget.
Kamanya’s reign as Miss Namibia comes to an end on 6 July when she will hand over her crown to another young beauty preparing for an unforgettable journey.
The vibrant and articulate powerhouse sits down with The Weekender to reflect on her time in the spotlight.
“I am a very silly person,” says Kamanya. “I love to make jokes and laugh at some of the dumbest things that one ever finds funny. I would also describe myself as a down-to-earth and completely relatable woman.”
The 22-year-old stunner refers to her time as Miss Namibia as character building. “My qualities have completely changed. Before, I was very shy. Now I’m better. I can now confidently put my voice out in front of many people.”
Every year, the Miss Namibia pageant celebrates beauty with a charitable cause. The title initiates a drive to bring charity to the less privileged, as well as promote deserving social causes.
Kamanya opted to raise awareness on mental health, because she believes it is a problem that affects many Namibians, some who aren’t even aware of it.
“Mental health is something that none of the former winners have selected. Just a few weeks after I selected mental health, I noticed that it was the perfect choice for me, because I personally have been a victim ever since I was a child,” she says.
As hard as it may be for many to believe, Kamanya admits that she experienced anxiety and low self-esteem while growing up.
“As a child, a lot of pressure was always put on me. I also often felt that I was not good enough. Being crowned Miss Namibia caused me to open my eyes and take care of my health,” she says.
Kamanya said even though her reign is coming to an end, she will continue advocating mental health awareness.
“I am currently in talks with some of the people who I’ve worked with on projects to continue. I will even do it by myself. It does not take a lot from me to one day go into the ward at Central Hospital and spend the day there,” she said.
During her time as Miss Namibia, Kamanya says her supporters were her biggest inspiration, often keeping her going when things got tough. She reveals there were times she felt like giving up.
“I hope they know how important they all are to me. There were many days I felt that I was not meant to carry the crown. I very often had questions like ‘how can I be an inspirational figure for others while I am doubting myself?’” she recalls.
The former Namibia University of Science and Technology economics student said having the opportunity to represent Namibia at the Miss Universe 2018 pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, taught her the importance of ‘thinking internationally’.
“I now want to start doing things worldwide and not just for Namibia. There I was in Thailand, in a beautiful country and surrounded by 94 of the most beautiful women in the world. This is just a wish for many other women which became a reality to me. I learnt about different cultures and was the one lucky Namibian to tell others what makes Namibia so special.”
Now that it is almost time to hand over her crown, Kamanya said what she will miss the most is having a voice the public value and are willing to listen to.
“Having such a platform as Miss Namibia is amazing. This is one of the things that immediately attracted me to enter. You have the platform to inspire others. I had a great platform to change people’s lives. This is a year in my life that I will always remember,” she says.
After she steps down, Kamanya plans to build her corporate profile and perhaps go back to university. She says she would like to study computer science or mechanical engineering.
Her advice to the incumbent Miss Namibia is to enjoy her year, because it is over in the blink of an eye.
“Always know that this is a great way for you to inspire others, so make sure that you do what is right. Also, make sure that you look good everywhere you go. I want to thank the Namibian people for giving me a chance to be their Miss Namibia,” she says.
Follow Selma Kamanya on Facebook.
– @rineldamouton on Instagram
