The Vice President, Lucia Witbooi, urged young people to respect and be proud of their roots.

She made the remarks during the preliminary competition for Miss Non-Governmental Organisation Namibia in the capital.

The preliminary competition, which marks a new chapter in the local pageant that fuses elegance with empowerment, narrowed contestants down to the Top 10 finalists from 16 contestants.

The top ten will each embark on a journey to carry out advocacy projects across the country. 

From these initiatives, one exceptional candidate will be crowned National Ambassador to represent Namibia on an international stage.

 Witbooi reminded the youth that every voice counts, regardless of tribe, language, and religion.

"It is from initiatives such as Miss NGO Namibia that young people are taught to not only be proud of their roots but also to understand and respect the roots of others. That one is also a very important point. We must respect. You must be proud that you are a Herero, Nama, Tswana, Owambo, or whatever. But in the meantime, don't forget to respect others' roots. Cultural diversity is a subject matter that is deeply connected to me. Not just as a vice president, but as someone who has long been committed to advocating for marginalised communities and ensuring our shared historical backgrounds."

More than just a beauty contest, Miss NGO Namibia is a transformative platform that champions beauty with a purpose. It empowers young women to lead advocacy, leadership, and development initiatives that uplift Namibian communities.

This year's competition adopted the theme "Born of Africa, Raised by Namibia", celebrating the richness of African identity through a uniquely Namibian lens.