In Celebration of Women of All Sizes

Miss Plus Size Namibia is annually held with the aim of celebrating women of all sizes.

It aims to uplift and support plus-size women and eliminate body shaming in society.

This year’s pageant was held at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre in Windhoek on 4 December.

The competition was founded by Margaret Shivolo, better known as Margo Rusky in the entertainment industry, who felt the need to launch the pageant as a platform to celebrate the women who are routinely overlooked in the world of pageantry, fashion and beauty.

“This year’s event was different. We added a category for mothers and married women. So, this year we have two winners, one represents the married women and mothers, and the other represents single women without children.

“We added these categories because this is how international pageants are held. We would like to send our winners to participate in pageants such as Miss Plus World and Miss Africa Plus,” Shivolo says.

The Weekender caught up with Bianca Heyns, who scooped the Miss Plus Size Namibia 2021 title.

As a little girl it had always been Heyns’ dream to participate in a beauty pageant, she says.

Miss Plus Size Namibia was the first contest she entered.

“I always wanted to be Miss Namibia, or be a part of a pageant, but never quite met the requirements. In our country I had never seen a platform for plus-size women. Also, one of my biggest fears has always been participating in a pageant, but I decided to face my fear and I am so happy that I did.

“Winning to me means a new beginning, new challenges, and a dream come true. This is a way for me to inspire women to love themselves no matter their size,” she says.

Heyns says she wants to use the opportunity to promote body positivity.

“I would like people to know how you feel about yourself starts within. I would like to invest more of my time in raising awareness for mental health and spend more time on charity work.

“This is important to me because it gives me a platform to bring change and to inspire others to do the same,” she says.

Heyns says life as a plus-sized person has not been easy.

“I was bullied a lot, and people didn’t know I used to hide it well by always trying to make them laugh.

“I mastered the art of hiding my true feelings, and I never felt like I fitted in. I have been on a diet since I can remember, because people always made me feel I had to be skinny, which wasn’t fair,” she says.

Heyns says she has worked hard to win the contest to help make the world a better place for herself and other plus-sized people.

“To all the plus-sized women and girls, I want to tell you there is absolutely nothing wrong with being plus sized. You are beautiful. You don’t have to lose weight or be skinny just to feel loved or to fit in,” she says.

Heyns says being a contestant was a fun-filled yet challenging experience.

“During the contest I have learnt so much. It was pleasing and interesting for me to learn about modelling,” she says. “I have also grown so much as a woman. I am so inspired by all the other contestants. It really was an amazing journey for me.”

What touched her heart the most was doing charity work, she says.

“It has changed my perspective on life. I want to do more. I also want to encourage the other contestants to keep doing what they were doing,” she says.

“I want to help people see that life is worth living. I love to see people happy,” Heyns says.

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