MTC sponsors Miss Namibia

MOBILE telecommunication giant MTC has announced sponsorship to Miss Namibia, Chelsi Shikongo, who is due to represent the country at the Miss Universe pageant in December.

During a press briefing on Tuesday morning, the company announced a N$100 000 sponsorship for Shikongo for her pageantry and registration fees.

MTC chief of human capital and corporate affairs Tim Ekandjo said the sponsorship will help Shikongo know that she has the support of her country.

“It is a very expensive process; all we see is Miss Namibia taking place but we don’t understand that there are a lot of costs involved. In that spirit, because we are a truly Namibian company, we have made this contribution,” he said.

As part of its international sponsorship, MTC also gave Shikongo a brand new iPhone 12 to stay connected and N$2 000 worth of airtime for every month until her reign ends.

“The reason why we invited Miss Namibia is to congratulate her. We have followed your success and from our view, it is just about to start, it won’t end with just the Miss Namibia title. We want you to take the entire Namibia through the 1992 experience again,” Ekandjo said.

This was in reference to Miss Namibia Michelle McLean winning the Miss Universe crown in Thailand in 1992.

Ekandjo thanked other sponsors of Miss Namibia stating that Namibia should be about collaboration and not competition when it comes to representing the country both inside and abroad. He also urged corporates to come on board before Shikongo leaves.

“If you want to make a contribution, make it now. There is still an outstanding amount of N$150 000 so please come on board and support Miss Namibia so she goes there with no worries. The biggest problem is that our national icons go and compete with so much worry and that is why they cannot win,” he said.

Shikongo thanked MTC for allowing her to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I’d want to express my gratitude to the MTC team and Tim Ekandjo for this generous gift and for the Namibian people’s support and belief in me. I am honoured to be able to represent my country on a global scale,” she said.

The pageant director Conny Maritz also thanked MTC for coming on board this year.

“The franchise fee is incredibly high, which we have paid, and our girl is going to participate. We have a lot of potential at the international level this year, and we need the Namibians’ support,” she said.

Shikongo is due to take part in the 70th edition of Miss Universe 2021 that will be held in December 2021 in Eilat, Israel.