From choir member at prize giving ceremonies, to top achiever

Tuilika Andreas (24) remembers her years at Kuiseb Primary School at Walvis Bay where she was an average student.

Despite her low performance, Andreas, who had her eldest brother as tutor, remained an eager pupil while always trying to participate in various events at school, including school choir, even though she could not sing well.

She joined the school poetry club, athletics and her first beauty pageant, which family members did not know about, especially as she did not even make the top ten.

She was finally invited to the school’s annual prize giving ceremony in third grade.

“I was surprised because I knew that only those who got a B average in any subject got invited. I was over the moon, thinking that I had finally hit an academic milestone. To my disappointment, I discovered at the event that I was only invited to the event to sing in the choir,” she says.

Despite the setbacks, Andreas persisted, leading her to finally earn awards in mathematics and english in Grade 4, followed by the best pupil award in Grade 5 at !Nara Primary School.

She continued to excel at Duinesig High School, where she became the chairperson of the Learners’ Representative Council and regional chairperson of the Namibian National Students Organisation.

She continued to participate in beauty pageants, scooping titles including Miss Duinesig in 2017 and Miss Kuisebmund in 2016.

She also represented the Erongo region as the first vice president of the Junior National Council in 2017.

Andreas battled through challenges in her high school career, including trying to study in a house situated next to a noisy shebeen.

The third youngest of 12 siblings, she often had to escape her noisy home by spending hours at the library, before returning home to finish her chores.

“I learned to manage my time and use every second wisely. My mom often worried that I was not resting enough. In eleventh grade, I blacked out during my English exam, a sign to take it easy. I ended up in third place in the school ranking, which I was not happy about. My teachers played an important role in motivating me,” she says.

Andreas, who participated in a Pan African Youth Leadership Programme in the United States in 2018, while studying for her Grade 12 exams, scooped the best performing student in the Erongo region that year.

She was crowned Miss Unam Central campus in her first year at the University of Namibia in 2019 while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery, and was also selected as Miss World University Namibia.

Andreas, who is the co-founder of Dear Girl Namibia and Purposeful Camp Namibia, served as the university’s secretary and vice president of community development.

She received an award for being the most influential young leader in the Southern African Development Community in 2019.

“We often sabotage our own success by ignoring our efforts. I know what it feels like to be in discomfort, but I have seen myself grow exponentially because of discomfort. I have learned the importance of positioning myself in places where I am most likely to thrive and do well. This involves who I associate with, what I spend my time doing, how I recharge and who I lean on. Just keep your head in the game,” the medical intern says.

Her brother, Gerson Shimanda, says the family was always amazed at her persistence.

“She enjoyed reading and writing since she was a little girl. She is a hard worker who enjoyed school and learning new things with passion. She dedicated time and did not like to fail. Even if she passed, she always aimed higher. She was up all night while we were sleeping. People called her beauty with brains, as she was also passionate about modelling. She is good at motivating both the youth and adults,” he says.

Andreas will be participating in the Miss Namibia 2025 pageant.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.