Miss Namibia 2023 Jameela Uiras unveiled her national costume for the Miss Universe pageant in Windhoek yesterday.
Uiras will showcase the ‘Diamond Oryx’, a costume designed by Mwatile Kapolola and Nadia Wilson, at the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in San Salvador, El Salvador, on 18 November, when R’Bonney Gabriel of the United States will crown her successor.
Each year, Miss Universe candidates have to choose an outfit that shows off their native costumes. The contestants show off creative ensembles that best represent their country’s culture in hopes that they are chosen as one of the best traditional looks of the night.
In the history of the beauty pageant, there have been some awe-inspiring looks that beautifully captured the essence of the contestant’s native land.
“The ‘Diamond Oryx’ is a desert animal that adapts to harsh environments and is also drawn on the Namibian coat of arms,” says Uiras.
“The oryx is a resilient animal, and after losing my mother, I had to learn to be resilient. In addition to personal growth, the opportunity to participate in Miss Namibia gave me a renewed sense of purpose and motivation,” she says.
“Tragically, I lost my mother in September 2022, and her passing shattered my world. However, the chance to compete in Miss Namibia serves as a beacon of hope and a source of courage for me. I strive to honour my mother’s memory and make her proud by seizing this opportunity and demonstrating my strengths and abilities to a wider audience.”
Miss Namibia Organisation chief executive Umbi Karuaihe-Upi says the dress sums up Namibia’s tourism, culture, fashion and all spheres of the land of the brave, with everything done and outsourced in Namibia.
“The choice of the oryx in Miss Namibia’s national costume resonates deeply with our Namibian spirit, embodying the values of courage, elegance and pride that define us as a nation. This ensemble is not just a stunning representation of our culture, it’s testament to our resilience and unwavering national pride,” says Karuaihe-Upi.
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