Gure to represent Namibia in Indonesia
By Rosalia David
Model Christiana Zanata Gure will be the first Namibian to represent the country at the Miss Polo International taking place in Indonesia in September.
In an interview with Confidente, Gure said she is excited to be part of the competition as her dream has always been to fly the Namibian flag as high as possible on international platforms.
“I am very much excited and can’t wait to step on the stage again. It is the first time Namibia is being represented ever since it (the event) started in 2018,” she said.
She added that, although there are a few models who have the potential to put Namibia on the map through modelling, the industry is not well respected locally.
“Most times when I represent Namibia people don’t know where it is. My biggest hope is for pageants to be respected in Namibia and for more support because right now individuals are forced to fund themselves when they are representing the nation,” she said.
Miss Polo International is a non-swimsuit/non-bikini beauty pageant that aims to promote education and carry out charitable acts globally, especially in the most impoverished regions of the world.
The pageant also seeks to promote inner beauty such as emotional intelligence, natural intelligence and team spirit.
Asked on where her inspiration for modelling comes from, Gure said, being able to talk on social issues through pageants is what keeps her going.
She said: “With pageants, I get to talk about my projects and create all the needed awareness about mental health and the importance of education. Also, I grew up seeing my parents give me everything I needed even when they didn’t have much, they always made sure I was well dressed and well fed, they taught me that it was very important to practice what the Lord said of loving our neighbours.
“If we look at all the religions out there in the world they all share the golden rule, which simply says do unto others as you want others to do to you. My name Christiana means follower of Christ (and he wanted us to love each other) whereas my other name Zanata means find the good, so for me this is a constant reminder to spread love in any way possible.”
The 27-year-old model was born in Kaduna, Nigeria. She is a middle child with two older brothers and two younger sisters.
She moved to Namibia when she was three months old and lived in Khorixas, Katima Mulilo, Grootfontein and now in Windhoek.
She won Miss Grootfontein, Miss Triumphant College, Miss International University of Management, and in 2018 she made it to the top 12 of the Miss Namibia pageant.