Miss Namibia Steffi Van Wyk, who is competing at the Miss World pageant in China, will wear at least four outfits made by South African fashion designers.
At least three of Steffi’s gowns were designed by South African fashion designer Ernst Venske, while another South African Paul van Zyl also contributed.
The finale of the Miss World pageant takes place on December 19. A South African publication reported that Venske designed a gown and two cocktail dresses for Steffi, to be worn at Miss World. In an interview with a South African publication, Steffi was asked about Venske making some of her dresses.
She reportedly said: “I look like a princess in his dresses. I feel breathtaking when I wear it.
It is my Cinderella moment.”
Responding to questions on why Steffi will be dressed by South African designers, when there are many talented Namibian ones, Miss Namibia National Coordinator Conny Maritz said local designers have not shown an interest in sponsoring gowns for the Miss Namibia winners.
“We depend on sponsored designs and many Namibians don’t want to give dresses for free,” she said.
Maritz explained that Steffi’s main dresses were made by Namibian designer Cobus Möller, while another local fashion designer Melissa Poulton also contributed to Steffi’s wardrobe for China.
She said many of the other items in her wardrobe were bought in Namibian shops.
She said only two South African designers, Van Zyl and Venske designed outfits for Steffi.
“In the end, it’s also about freedom of choice. I would hate to be restricted to just local designers,” Maritz said.
She further explained that for the Miss World pageant, Miss Namibia needs about 30 outfits.
“No Namibian designer can make and sponsor over 30 designs. If the local designer feels passionately about sponsoring Miss Namibia, they can always approach us,” Maritz added.
Team Namibia CEO Roberta da Costa said while there may be a lot of reasons for using South African designers, there is a need to engage the Miss Namibia pageant on how best find a solution.
“Obviously we all want our ambassador to be as representative of Namibia as possible, so we need to sit down and work out strategies,” she said.
Da Costa said many factors could come into play, including the fact that organisers may have an agreement with South African designers or local designers may be unable sponsor dresses.
“I remember in the past many South Africans came to help with organizing the pageant, but we can only find answers and a solution, when we really engage with the Miss Namibia pageant and develop a strategy,” she said.
Businesswoman Hilda Basson-Namundjebo said while she understands the fact that Namibia’s participation at Miss World must be expensive, she cannot “fathom how we justify out beauty queen being dressed by South African designers”.
Basson-Namundjebo explained that Miss Namibia is a symbol of pride and represents all things Namibian
“I am very saddened that there was no proactive engagement of Namibian designers by the pageant owners,” she added.
I am sure Namibian fashion designers have heard that. Next time please come up to sponsor Miss Namibia with dresses that are proudly Namibian -
Tourism Observer
