Miss Republic of Namibia to Redefine Standards of Beauty

There’s a new pageant in town, replete with new rules, objectives and a plan to redefine Euro-centric perceptions of beauty that still linger amongst Africans.

Speaking to this week, founder of Miss Republic of Namibia Paulina Malulu said that the idea for the pageant comes a very long way. “Initially, the idea had always been there and I’ve worked on this pageant template since 2011.”

Since then, Malulu tweaked and changed the concept here and there and by 2015, she knew exactly how she wanted it to be.

A former Miss Namibia title holder and model, Malulu is using her experience in pageantry to offer young women a pageant that has all the things that she’s always wanted to see in a pageant. She is passionate about the industry and stressed that it should not be overlooked as a contributor towards nation-building.

“The beauty pageant industry is an industry like any other, with the capacity to contribute to the nation building of any country. Namibia should be no different,” she said.

Miss Republic of Namibia is set to take place for the first time in 2018. Young women between the ages of 18 and 27 with at least a Grade 12 qualification are encouraged to enter. “The pageant is very African-centred. The reality out there is that as Africans, we define our beauty according to what the rest of the world tells us is beautiful and with this pageant, we want to rectify that,” said Malulu. Participants in the pageant, she said, are encouraged to wear their natural hair and they should be prepared to undergo their first interviews without wearing make-up. “We want the girls to be as natural as possible,” said Malulu.

Malulu seeks to crown a young woman who is well-rounded, with the slogan for the pageant being ‘Eminent Woman’. Participants should expect not only an opportunity to walk away with exciting prizes but also to be tested on their knowledge of Namibian culture and heritage. Miss Republic of Namibia will further seek to celebrate young, beautiful and talented Namibian women from all 14 regions of Namibia.

While some commentators in the pageant world have been whispering about Miss Republic of Namibia being in direct competition with the national pageant, Miss Namibia, Malulu shut down the allegations. “We’re not competing with Miss Namibia. We have our own objectives and goals,” she said.

Miss Republic of Namibia will be run under the Paulina Malulu Trust, a non-profit organisation that will control and oversee the pageant.

Regional heats will take place between 6 October and 18 November with the grand finale taking place on 4 February 2018. For more information about the pageant, contact missrepublicofnamibia@gmail.com or call 061 218 300.

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