When you meet Nadja Breytenbach in person, you will find a million reasons why she deserves the Miss Namibia crown.
Breytenbach was crowned Miss Namibia 2019 during a red carpet event held at the Windhoek Country Club and Resort last Saturday evening.Beyond her stunning looks, it’s her beauty from within that makes her special and unique.
The 24-year-old says from next week, she will officially start working on projects. “I will have meetings to discuss the way forward. I am super excited about this. I will work really hard and do my best to make Namibia and its people proud and happy,” she says.
The national pageant is not Breytenbach’s first time in the limelight. In 2010, she won the second runner-up title at Miss Teen Namibia. Nine years later, one morning as Breytenbach had the idea of seeking a platform where she could help others, an entry form for Miss Namibia 2019 suddenly appeared on her Facebook page.
Breytenbach says after her reign for Miss Teen Namibia, she told herself that she will never enter another pageant again, saying she had difficulties with fulfilling all the required duties.
“This time around it is very different, because I am ready and prepared for my reign. I want this journey in my life to be a success,” she says confidently.
The Windhoek-born beauty says during her reign, she will be there for the people and encourages the public to feel comfortable with her. “I want to people to not be scared or shy whenever they see me. I want them to know that it is okay to walk up me and talk to me. I am more than willing to take that selfie with you,” she says with a smile.
Breytenbach refers to herself as someone who puts others before herself, and said she is doing this because it is important for her to see other people happy. “I believe that we were placed onto this earth to help better each other. I enjoy helping because I have seen how it can change someone’s life for the better. I do have a great passion for people. I enjoy listening to them. Most of the time I am often busy trying to find ways how to make people happy and this is where my love and passion for my profession comes from,” the psychology degree holder says.
The beauty queen says her interest in psychology started when she was a little girl. Growing up, she experienced a lot of things that many people can relate to. One of her toughest moments was when her father passed away. She was nine years old at the time.
Already at that age, she decided to make smart choices. “I was hurt, but I knew that I only had two choices. One was to take whatever is happening to me as something bad or something good. I then told myself to accept pain as a lesson. Going through several challenges has grown me and now I am able to help others who will experience a similar issue,” she says.
The former Delta Secondary School pupil says during her reign, she will work with Side by Side Early Intervention Centre and Huis Maerua Children’s Home. Children are placed at Huis Maerua due to neglect, abandonment, poverty, abuse or unacceptable living conditions.
Side by Side operates as a day-care and is situated in Goreangab, Windhoek. It is a centre for families of children with special needs. It caters to children with disabilities which include cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and developmental delays.
Picking these two institutions came easily for Breytenbach, as she has been involved with them since the start of the year.
At Side by Side, she hosts workshops where she talks to the parents and guardians of the children. At Huis Maerua, she talks to young girls about confidence and self-esteem.
“I love being at these two places with all of my heart. I enjoy talking to the parents, because I want to motivate them that it is very important to raise children well, as they are our country’s future. I also find taking to young girls very important because I want them to know at a young age that they are special and must work hard to become the best they can be,” she says.
The brunette beauty says she decided to host workshops because she wanted to do something with the skills and knowledge she has gained. “If we don’t better our own country, who will?” On Miss Namibia 2018 Selma Kamanya’s recent comments about the emotional abuse and lack of financial support she suffered during her reign, Breytenbach says she is certain that her journey will be different.
“Every person always has different experiences. I really cannot talk for someone else, because I don’t know what they have experienced. I am however prepared for everything. Thus far, my journey has been amazing and I have enjoyed every second.”
Breytenbach says she will miss the love, care and support from the other finalists. “We were in a contest, but it did not feel like that. The ladies were always there to uplift each other. I have made new friends for life. On my journey as Miss Namibia, I know that all of them will still be there for me.”
On the cyber-bullying that some of the semi-finalists experienced earlier this year, Breytenbach says as part of her psychologist training, she has learnt how damaging it can be.
“If you don’t have anything good to say, rather don’t say it. What you say can walk with a person for the rest of their life. When the semi-finalists experienced this, we carried each other. We were there for each other,” she says. She adds that more needs to be done to stop cyber-bullying because it is becoming a concern in Namibia.
As part of her pageant training, Breytenbach will receive one week of exclusive coaching for the international Miss Universe pageant by The Business of Beauty, a company owned by former Miss Namibia and Miss Universe Michelle McLean-Bailey.
Breytenbach is thrilled and said she is looking forward to work with McLean-Bailey. “When I was in Grade 1, she came to my school. I remember telling my mother that I want to be just like her one day, and now I will work closely with her. I know I will learn a lot from her. I also know that she won’t try to change me into someone I am not. I am looking forward to learning from her,” she says.
When she heads to Miss Universe, Breytenbach said she will give her best and will come back home with plenty of international pageant knowledge. “When I am there, I will be learning all the time. I will learn from all of the industry experts. Besides the pageant, I am very interested in cuisine and different cultures,” she says excitedly.
On her reign, Breytenbach says all the winners before her have left their footprints and now it is her chance, adding that she will give her utmost best to make her year a success. “I know that this journey won’t be an easy one for me. Yes, there will be many challenges, but I am ready for it all. I have a strong support team who will be there to guide me and pick me up whenever I fall,” she says.
Referring to her mother and grandmother as her support team and role models, she says while growing up, she saw them facing a lot of difficulties, but that they still managed to stay positive. “I have learnt a lot from them. They are on my speed dial and are always available to talk to me.”
The soft-spoken title holder says once she hands over her crown, she plans to continue helping others. “I don’t want to do special things just for one year and then vanish. No, I would like to do things for others until my last breath. I am here for the people, after all,” she says.
