The photograph above depicts the winner's court at the Miss Namibia 1984 pageant. The winner was Peta Harley-Peters and her runners-up were Bianca Pragt and Vanessa Carroll. Peta competed at the Miss Universe 1984 pageant with South Africa's Leticia Snyman.When South Africa was banned from the Miss Universe pageant in 1985, Namibia was as well. That is why Bianca Pragt, who went on to win the Miss Namibia pageant in 1987, did not compete at Miss Universe. The country was, however, welcomed back after independence and competed at the Miss Universe 1991 pageant.
I have only ever been to Namibia on one occasion and truth be told, it's just like South Africa, but with a generous helping of sauerkraut on the side. Not that it's a bad thing. It's like Somerset West (Little Germany), but in the desert, which is up the road from where I live.
Needless to say, the erstwhile South West Africa was governed by South Africa until independence in 1990. Until 1979, the Miss South Africa pageant accepted entries from South West Africa and there was even a Miss South West Africa at the Miss South Africa pageant from 1971 until 1974 when regional winners competed.
From 1980, however, the Miss South Africa pageant no longer accepted entries from South West Africa, and young ladies from that region with an eye on a beauty title had to compete in the Miss Namibia pageant. For the record, South West Africa was referred to as Namibia from 1980 until 1989 even though independence from South Africa had not yet been achieved.
Even today, a number of Namibian lasses have competed, and won or placed, in local pageants. Most of the Namibian-born models are with South Africa model agencies and spend a lot of time in the country on photographic and ramp assignments.
I bet this comment is not going to appease the Namibian authorities, but let's be honest, Namibia is so socially and economically dependent on South Africa that it would cease to exist if a giant asteroid were to fall on Bloemfontein and wipe out the greater part of South Africa.
It may just as well be our 10th province.
