Model, writer and administration officer Ivy Marowa (26), or just Ivy, is set to participate in the World Tourism Supermodel international pageant to be hosted in Gambia from 20-29 October under the theme ‘Welcome to Gambia’.
Ivy will jet out tomorrow to prepare for the pageant activities, with the grand finale being hosted on 28 October.
The pageant, which was previously known as Global Tourism Supermodel, was first established in Zambia in 2017, where Miss Namibia 2017 second runner-up Tessia Mutwemezi was the representative.
The pageant aims to promote African tourism as it’s an African-owned pageant which aims to show Africa’s beauty to the world through the idea of beauty and tourism.
Up to 60 models from around the world have been selected to participate in this exchange of culture and beauty to stimulate tourism to Gambia, and the event is sponsored by the Gambian government.
Programme coordinator Ida Bidwell says the girls will participate in sightseeing in Banjul, the capital of Gambia, a swimsuit competition, an evening gown competition and cultural and heritage exchange programmes.
Ivy was hand-picked to attend the event by Walk by Bobby Kaanjosa, a franchise holder of the pageant in Namibia, owned by Bobby Kaanjosa.
Kaanjosa says the pageant requested model representatives from each country in the world.
“As the national director of the pageant in Namibia, I appointed Ivy because I worked with her before and I saw her commitment,” says Kaanjosa, adding that the model’s experience is vast and has earned her the right to represent Namibia in this pageant.
“It’s really an honour for me to have been selected to represent the 2,5 million Namibians. As a model, I get to showcase my talent to the world, which could mean a breakthrough for my career as a fashion model. So many people from all over the world will be in attendance, and this could potentially mean I could get scouted, and this platform will prepare me to one day take on the title of Miss Namibia,” says Ivy.
Her first activity starts on Friday, to show the world what Namibians are made of by sharing more about the country and its beautiful people, she says.
“I will be in Gambia for nine days, and I aim to represent Namibia with pride,” says Ivy.
The line-up further includes participating in the national costume competition, photoshoots with top Gambian photographers and designers and video shoots.
Ivy is no stranger to modelling and pageants, after being the first runner-up in the Miss Journalism Namibia 2018 pageant, representing Namibia the same year at Miss Elegance International in Botswana, placing in the top 5, and ending up being named Miss Congeniality. In 2022, Ivy was a top 12 finalist for Miss Supranational Namibia 2022 and a semi-finalist for Miss Namibia 2021.
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