The International University of Management (IUM) Nkurenkuru campus embraced the notion of inclusivity by allowing a contestant with a child to participate in the beauty pageant, in what is said to be a rare trend in beauty pageantry.
At the just-ended IUM Nkurenkuru Cultural Festival, Toini Aikali was crowned Miss IUM Nkurenkuru Campus.
A seasoned pageant participant and a mother, Aikali championed inclusivity, arguing that talent and ability should outweigh personal attributes such as motherhood or body size.
"I strongly believe that being a mother should not be the reason why any kind of woman cannot participate in a beauty pageant, and I am so grateful that IUM did not restrict me from taking part in Miss IUM and winning this. I want to advocate to be a positive brand ambassador and also to be a role model for women to be empowered and be what they want to be in their lives."
If the country's pageant regulations were to change, Toini expressed her ambition to one day compete for Miss Namibia, demonstrating her forward-thinking vision and continued commitment to the field.
"It is so unfortunate that Miss Namibia does not allow mothers to take part in, but if they maybe change their rules and regulations, I would really want to take part in a part in a party in Namibian, and I am seeing myself as Miss Namibian and going far with this."
Elias Kayembe, the 2024 Mr. IUM Nkurenkuru, says he is unconcerned by stereotypes about men participating in beauty pageants.
What matters to him is embracing and showcasing one's talent.
"I think in Namibia people worry about the stereotypes; they are much worried about race, tribes, and all those staffs, so as we speak, we do not have Mr. Namibia, so I think they must let men also embrace their talents."
Despite the cultural doubts and prejudice toward men in beauty pageants, Elias is focused on his future.
He dreams of becoming a leader in cultural fashion and envisions Namibia proudly hosting Mr. Namibia.
His passion and vision are set on changing perceptions and highlighting the wide range of talent.
"Most of the people take culture for granted, as I speak here. In the future, I want everybody to notice how important their culture is. And I want to make sure that, in the next five years or in the future, we will have our own Mr. Namibia. So I think talent is going to be wasted by not letting people embrace what is in them, especially when it comes to the youth."