From the age of 6, Hendrin Shikongo knew she was passionate about modelling and began participating in pageants and carving her footprint in the beauty industry. She has now made it to the Miss Namibia Top 20 and is excited for what lies ahead.
The Hage G. Geingob High School teacher found time out of her busy schedule between teaching and preparing for the pageant to sit down and shed light on her modelling journey and what she hopes to achieve through finally participating in the Miss Namibia pageant this year.
Shikongo, 22, comes from an extended family and was raised by hardworking parents in the informal settlement of Hakahana.
Her decision to enter this annual pageant was not on a whim. In fact, it was long overdue.
“I have been delaying for two years now, and I believe in the power of God’s timing. I believe it is time for me to be infused with that platform to embark on impacting lives by telling my individual story and advocating for the wellbeing and education of young people,” Shikongo said.
“I entered Miss Namibia to be an ambassador for my nation and to serve through love, kindness, and spreading the word of God.”
Hendrin Shikongo
She is humble and open to correction, and she hopes that this journey teaches her as much as possible.
“Learning different personalities and how to embrace each one, learning the dynamics of how flexible and adaptable I can be, learning how to be a reliable Miss Namibia, and well, ultimately, winning the crown,” Shikongo stated confidently.
After being a pageant girl since the age of six, she has realised that there is power in embracing one’s individuality.
“Nobody is better than the other,” Shikongo strongly says. “It all lies in how you present yourself to the world and how relatable you are to the nation you want to impact.”
Shikongo completed her primary education at Moses Garoeb and attended Hage G. Geingob High School before proceeding to the University of Namibia (UNAM), where she will soon obtain her honours degree in education.
“I started my first year in 2019 at UNAM, and I will graduate next year after I complete my current teaching practice. The journey has not been easy, and I can attest that the content is quite handy,” Shikongo said. “But here I am, close to the finish line, looking forward to wearing my graduation gown next year.”
“I love to work with young people and influence them positively as their teacher and role model.”
Hendrin Shikongo
The overachiever added that her proudest academic achievement was when she was the only student from her school in her grade 12 year to receive a Level 1 in English Higher Level.
Looking at the education system, Shikongo agrees that there is a lot of good that goes unnoticed.
“Teachers are putting in a lot of work around the new curriculum. I believe they are working hard to achieve positive results, and people should be much more supportive,” she said passionately.
However, Shikongo says that there are also challenges that face the system, such as the lack of infrastructure and inadequate learning resources.
“With the new budget, education was allocated the highest percentage. I believe that will go a long way towards improving classrooms and investing in more learning resources,” Shikongo said.
Shikongo adds that the nation needs to pay attention to the high unemployment rate as well as the agricultural sector.
“The agricultural sector is highly exposed to a constant change in weather patterns, which I think is an important aspect to investigate for change,” Shikongo said.
An agenda she wishes to promote through her participation in Miss Namibia is the welfare and well-being of children.
“I believe that it is important to shape and mould our young ones’ minds during infancy so that it is easy to build a nation of champions, conquerors, and game changers. This is something my heart cries out to and will push through as Miss Namibia,” Shikongo said.
“I love my heart the most. I love that it is full of the abundance of the love of Christ that I pour out everywhere I go.”
Hendrin Shikongo
Her love for young people is evident as she speaks, and it is no surprise when she reveals that she is also a Sunday school teacher and volunteers at soup kitchens. On top of that, Shikongo is also a worshipper at her local church.
Shikongo notes that various issues affect men and women.
“One of the biggest problems surrounding men is that they have not been accorded a safe space to speak about their challenges. Thus, the fear of being judged or mocked among friends and family leads to suicide,” she said.
As for the challenges she identified for women, Shikongo said that they stem from social media.
“Young women are struggling with authenticity and expressing themselves due to influence and pressure from social media,” she said, and she advised young people to know their “why,” build a solid foundation in Christ, be themselves and confident about it, and work hard.
Shikongo has great visions for the next five years, stating that she believes the pageant industry would have grown and prevailed with purpose. Speaking about where she sees herself in the next five years, she says:
“I will be an established woman who will mentor young people on the importance of going for their dreams regardless of where they come from. I see myself as a powerful woman who will excel academically and achieve her PhD.”
Follow Shikongo’s journey, and definitely keep an eye out for this powerhouse as she takes the stage and advocates for the education of young Namibians.
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