Former Miss Namibia, Cassia Sharpley, has returned to Namibia after participating in the Miss Cosmo International Beauty Pageant in Vietnam last week on Saturday.

Despite not making it into the top ten, Sharpley managed to walk away with the Impactful Beauty Award, where she was also awarded about N$33,000 for her foundation.

According to the organisation, the award is a testament to the impact they make when they stand by the truth, lead with heart, and represent more than themselves on the international stage.

"I got the Impactful Beauty Award, and it has to do with the project that you pitched to a bank in Vietnam. And then, based on that, they decide who is the winner of the project pitch. And I pitched the Honeycomb Haven Foundation, which is my foundation, and Poverty Elevation, which I've been working on since 2017," said Sharpley.

Sharpley said it was an honour to represent the country on an international platform, adding that the journey has been impactful in terms of character building as well as seeing the world from a different perspective.

"It has been a significant call to elevate Namibia's name, and we have witnessed how Namibia has gained traction and attention from the world. And with that, my platform is going to be used to encourage Namibians, to encourage other young women in my position, to truly take up space in the community and to make an impact that lasts for a lifetime and not just for a moment."

Sharpley's message to other young women was to not let their circumstances define their capability and to make use of every opportunity that will make a difference or positively impact their communities and the nation at large.