Van Jaarsveld Gears Up For Miss World

Entertainment | 2023-02-02 Page no: 14 | by Rinelda Mouton.

AS the world gets ready to witness the upcoming crowning of this year's Miss World International, Miss Namibia frist runner-up and Miss World Namibia, Leoné Renate van Jaarsveld (26), is busy with final preparations before heading off to the popular pageant.

Born in Windhoek, Van Jaarsveld went to school in Windhoek, and at Rundu, Stampriet, Okahandja and Walvis Bay.

She is a human resources managing assistant at the Swakopmund Station Hotel and Entertainment Centre and the owner of LR Beauty, which specialises in make-up and hair artistry as well as the distribution of professional make-up products.

Van Jaarsveld was publicly announced in September 2022 as Miss World Namibia 2022, and will be representing her country at the 71st edition of Miss World International in May.

She says this will be one of the biggest experiences of her life.

She was selected as Miss World Namibia by the Miss Namibia Organisation, with the aim to showcase Namibia on various international platforms.

“They have awarded me with the incredible opportunity to compete at Miss World 2023, as Miss World represents 'Beauty with a Purpose'. I feel and know the Miss World slogan aligns with who I am.

“As Miss World Namibia 2022, I will carry Namibia's flag with pride and humility,” she says.

Miss World 2023 will be the 71st edition of the Miss World pageant and will be held in May.

Karolina Bielawska of Poland will crown her successor at the end of the event.

The Miss World Organisation has yet to make an official announcement on the final date and host country of the upcoming event.

So far, around 80 countries and territories have been confirmed to participate, including Namibia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Russia, Thailand and Zambia.

Van Jaarsveld says she is already excited about participating in the Miss World pageant and will focus on the five sections of the competition: the 'Beauty with a Purpose' project, the head-to-head challenge, where the Miss World Organisation and the public will get to know what participants represent, the high fashion section, talent competition, and the sport section.

“Sport is one of my favourite hobbies. I believe in the fundamental role sport plays in one's life. The sport edition is special. Miss World Namibia 2015, Steffi van Wyk-Brink, won this part of the competition, and I strive to make my country proud working extremely hard with the MTC Dome's High Performance Centre at Swakopmund, one of Miss Namibia's incredible sponsors. I hope and believe to achive greatness, not only for myself, but for my country,” she says.Van Jaarsveld says she would use the platform to showcase true Namibian beauty, it's people, its beautiful diverse and unique cultures, its dynamic and vast landscapes and its wildlife.

During her year, van Jaarsveld will focus on her non-profit charity organisation LR_Youth_Support.

She says she will use the platform to support underprivileged children in Namibia.

“Every child deserves having their basic needs met, and that's why I have found and established LR Youth Support. With my platform, I will bring visibility and recognition to national non-profit organisations. My intent is to empower the founding supporters of such causes of goodwill to keep up excellent work and to attract the attention of prospective sponsors. My aim as founder is to narrow the gap between the haves and have-nots,” she says.

Van Jaarsveld says she has grown up believing everything is possible through hard work, commitment, perseverance and dedication.

“I like to believe it is a privilege to be awarded the opportunity to fully live life to the best of one's capabilities; to always constantly remind myself to be grateful and respectful towards myself and the people around me,” she says.

As a pageant enthusiast, Van Jaarsveld says the industry has helped to develop her personally.

“I competed in my first pageant in 2013 as Miss Junior Visfees at Henties Bay, where I won my first-ever pageant. I competed in Miss De Duine at Henties Bay in 2012, where I won first runner-up.

“Throughout high school I have always admired what 'pageants' have to offer, and competed in my school's pageant, Miss Walvis Bay Private High School, in 2015. I was first runner-up.

“My first professional pageant was in 2017 when I competed in Miss Namibia for the first time. I won Miss Debutant that year, and was a top-12 finalist.

“In 2020 I competed in the first Namibian Miss Supranational Namibia alongside the incredible Chanique Rabe, Miss Supranational International 2021. I won Miss Public Choice with Kosmos 94.1, and placed within the top 5,” she says.

Van Jaarsveld says being a pageant title holder has granted her the platform to meet new people and develop excellent relationships.

She says she is mainly excited about the fact that she is able to work with other women in her community.

“It will forever remain a life experience that no one can take away from me. The most important lesson I have learnt from pageants is to always believe in yourself and what you are capable of achieving.

“No matter how big the goal may be, anything is possible through hard work and dedication,” she says.

https://www.namibian.com.na/119470/read/Van-Jaarsveld-Gears-Up-For-Miss-World