Walking in Miss Congeniality’s shoes

At the age of three she was already walking in her mother’s shoes.Today, radio production student Georgia Garises (19) is Miss Namibia’s second princess.

She says she used to be glued to the screen of ‘Toddlers and Tiaras’ as a child.

Garises, who was the youngest contestant in the national pageant, also scooped Miss Congeniality as selected by her fellow contestants.

She says she was born and raised in Windhoek’s Khomasdal suburb and was brought up by a single mother, which motivated her to focus on uplifting children lacking father figures in their lives.

“I chose this as my advocacy, because I could relate to it. It is something that I had to overcome, which made me more resilient,” she says.

Society sees children raised in fatherless homes as lacking values and morals, which is not the case, Garises says.

“You can still make it and achieve greatness without a father figure,” she says.

She says she loves talking and ventured into radio production, because she likes how radio personalities interact with people.

Garises’ mother, Hedwigh Garises-Kamure, says: “I am happy and proud of my daughter. From the tender age of three she put on my heels and walked as if she was modelling,” she says.

“She entered to participate in Miss Teen Namibia, but she was selected for Miss Namibia,” Garises-Kamure says.

She urges parents to support their children’s dreams and goals.

Her daughter’s middle name, Duduzile, meaning ‘consolation’ in Zulu, describes her personality, she says.

“She is a good listener and matured for her age, she can be a good adviser,” Garises-Kamure says.

Longtime friend Theo-Hileni Uugwanga says there is nothing her friend cannot achieve.

“I am extremely proud of her,” she says.

College of the Arts radio production lecturer Tjiuaurua Korukove describes Garises as a hardworking student who managhed to balance classes and pageant rehearsals.

“She is an enthusiastic student who went out of her way to catch up on all missed sessions,” she says.