DIRECTOR general of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Stanley Similo said the national broadcaster is currently in the process of acquiring full ownership of the Miss Namibia franchise.
The NBC holds 30% ownership of the Miss Namibia franchise, which they acquired in 2018.
Organisers of the pageant have over recent years faced increasing criticism with regards to the treatment of contestants, including allegations of emotional abuse and a lack of financial support.
Similo told The Namibian yesterday they want the franchise to have the desired content – to promote the girl child and provide access to the pageant.
“As a big entity and from a media perspective, if we can’t showcase this type of content it defeats the purpose.
“Where we are now, we believe we have done well because of the production we did last year. That’s where we tested to see how well we can actually promote and brand the business,” he said.
Similo said the NBC is not using its allocation from the government to foot the bill but rather sourcing donor funds.
“We are not using any of the funds. We go out to look for funds specifically for the pageant. We believe that we can support the girl child, the ladies, to live their dreams,” Similo said.
He said the NBC will soon make an announcement on their ambition.
Last week, former Miss Namibia Chelsi Shikongo took to social media to blast the pageant, which she said has done nothing but brought humiliation, trauma and brokenness to her and previous title holders.
Shikongo was not the first winner to bring these claims to light. Previous title holders Selma Kamanya (2018), Suné January (2017), and Lizelle Esterhuizen (2016) also shared Shikongo’s experiences during their reigns.
“Management is management is management… What it means is whatever challenges there may have been, this is what we would want to look at through the director that was appointed (Umbi Karuaihe-Upi). We are not blind to what is happening. That is why you see the importance [that] we are involved,” Similo said on addressing the challenges.