MISS Namibia, Happie Ntelamo, will be making her way to London today to represent Namibia at the 59th Miss World pageant.
Happie will be taking with her a Namibian national gift, which will be auctioned off on Monday at the Miss World welcoming dinner in London.
The dinner marks the start of the five-week festival that will lead up to the Miss World finale in Johannesburg, South Africa, on December 12.
This year, Namibia’s gift was sponsored by fashion leather boutique Nakara Namibia, and is a beautiful black-and-white bag made of springbok leather and Nguni cattle hide – renowned for the unique pattern on each hide.Other gifts for the auction include a pair of running shoes signed by three-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt – from Miss Jamaica; a cricket bat signed by legendary batsman Brian Lara – from Miss Trinidad and Tobago; a holiday package for two to Cat Island – from Miss Bahamas; and a number of other items including dolls, traditional dresses and jewellery.The organisers hope to raise US$1 million at the auction, with the proceeds going to the Variety International Children’s Fund to support medical, nutritional and educational programmes in South Africa, Haiti, Palau, Philippines, Ghana and India.The approximately 120 Miss World contestants will leave London on November 10 for Abu Dhabi.From there they will fly to Johannesburg on November 15, where they will stay for a month before the Miss World Final on December 12, where Namibia can look forward to seeing Happie perform her cultural dance from the Caprivi Region.Thanking all her sponsors yesterday, Happie said: ‘I will try my utmost to do Namibia proud. Hold thumbs for me.’nangula@namibian.com.na
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