The Director General of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (nbc), Stanley Similo, has expressed concern over the reluctance of some corporate entities to invest in the Miss Namibia beauty pageant. 

Similo was speaking at a dinner at Luderitz on the eve of the Miss Namibia beauty pageant contest.

"Others were saying, 'No, this is not happening in my area, in my constituency, not in my region'. I personally find it extremely offensive because the end game here for us is that we are saying there is a girl child that we want to grow, there is a girl child here that we want to give dignity, there is a girl child we are saying we want to you have self-respect, and the reverse is also true in saying that we want to teach men, the boys, that women irrespective of age are important."

Similo further says that Miss Namibia is a national project and not just a mere beauty contest. 

"This project is now a national project, and it remains that and shall remain with the people of Namibia. We are just holding it on behalf of everybody. In Swakopmund, we had a viewership of about 1 million. During that time, the pageants were running on all our platforms, which would be TV, radio, and online as well. We are hoping that this time, with the data we have, we will easily surpass the 2 million mark."

The Chief Executive Officer of Luderitz Waterfront Development Company, Fluksman Samuehl, expressed gratitude to nbc management and the board for accepting Luderitz to host the beauty contest.

"And I have no doubt in my mind that given the contestants that are there, they are beautiful and have a high intellect, and I believe they will rise to the occasion, not only nationally. I think when we are going to Miss Universe, I have doubt that we will shine because we are coming from the country of the brave." 

ǃNamiǂNûs Constituency Councillor Suzan Ndjaleka called on the community to support the beauty pageant to make it a success.