I’m ready for international stage – Da Costa

Stella da Costa, a former Miss Namibia and Miss Supranational contestant, believes she is ready for the global stage after acquiring modelling skills through participation in local pageants over the past 12 years.

Da Costa, who won the Miss Ondangwa Trade Fair title this year, will represent the country at the sixth edition of the Miss Heritage Global 2023 pageant slated for September at the Kalahari Resort in Limpopo province, South Africa.

Over 70 countries will compete for the title this year in the pageant, which strives to promote cultural diversity around the world.

According to Da Costa, the main reason models compete in local pageants is to get a chance to compete on a global platform.

She says competing in the Miss Namibia and Miss Supranational, two of the biggest pageants in the country, opened doors for her, as she sought to expand her platform and gain recognition on the international scene.

“I appreciate this chance. Unfortunately, national pageants can only work with one of the models they receive, but they train all the models. So, it is up to you what you do with that training. For me, that decision was to compete on an international platform,” she says.

Da Costa, who was raised at Opuwo in the Kunene region, says Albertina Shilelo, the former Miss Heritage Namibia, recognised her potential and gave her the chance to compete in Miss Heritage Global 2023.

“She feels that I can represent Namibia at the pageant and that I’ve what it takes to do well. And I think that every pageant I participated in helped to prepare me for this one. So, I’ll take all I’ve learnt to the next level,” she says.

Da Costa is determined to win the crown and, if she wins, she plans to collaborate with the environment and tourism ministry on her current initiatives to teach young people about leadership, particularly in underprivileged communities.

“My biggest interest is inspiring young ladies and boys that their background, where they are from, and how they grew up do not determine them. However, who you are is determined by your decisions, actions and goals,” she advised.

Da Costa started modelling when she was in Grade 7.

“I was just 13. I had no idea what modelling actually was, but I still adored it. I used to watch America’s Next Top Model and see models on television, particularly former Miss Universe Michelle McLean, who was always the topic of conversation in my family. Immediately, I fell in love,” she says.

In 2012, Da Costa participated in the Miss Opuwo Trade Fair, her first pageant.

“I was the youngest model at the time –14 years old – and the first princess to enter the room. I became more fascinated and entered other pageants, but it wasn’t until I entered Miss Namibia 2021 and made it to the finals that I discovered what pageants really meant.”