Beating the odds

Jeanette DiergaardtGlitz, glamour and dedication is the name of the game for ten-year-old model, Regina Sitemo, who scooped the child model of the year accolade at the 2021 Katutura Fashion Week (KFW) awards.“My teachers said that I wouldn’t make it and I proved them wrong,” Regina said after receiving the award.She may appear shy, withdrawn and soft-spoken when initially meeting her, but on the catwalk Regina is fierce and confident. With a calm and confident demeanour, the young model encourages all aspiring child models to remain confident and believe in themselves. Preparing for upcoming pageants is the next step for Regina, although she enjoys walking the walk on the catwalk. Her father, Nicoh Sitemo, says they went into the competition with no real expectations and just wanted to enjoy the experience. “Expectations are not really there, it is a competition after all,” the proud papa said after his daughter won the competition.The start of big thingsRegina’s modelling journey began in 2019, when her parents enrolled her in a modelling school with Dennis Hendriks. Although not initially planned, Regina decided she wanted to pursue modelling. Sports was initially her passion, seeing how she started as a basketball player. However, due to Covid-19 her plans changed and gymnastics was on the table. Again, this changed, and her father then decided to enrol her for modelling classes. “We entered her in the classes because we believed it would help with her confidence,” her father said. According to Nico, getting their daughter prepared for modelling includes getting ready on time, being prepared before the show kicks off as well as talking to designers to design the perfect dress.Regina’s dream outfit is a mermaid dress, and she would love if that dress could be in her favourite colour, which is grey. Although Regina is thriving in the modelling environment, she wishes to become a lawyer one day. The Fashion Week title winner was chosen by way of public vote after the committee sat down to select the nominees for the child model category. The other nominees were Destiny Garises, Imamudeen Danladi, Misha Bok and Prosper Chirimo. This category is for models between the ages of six and 12, according to Bobby Kajosa, one of the planning committee members.According to Jati Indongo, a KFW planning committee member, most of the nominees have a background in pageantry. Due to Covid-19, the nominees were chosen according to their social media activity and engagements. Indongo said that only a few of the models that are chosen for the catwalk are newcomers to the spotlight. KFW has more to offer to the public and will be hosting a runway show from 25 – 27 November. Model castings are taking place on 11 September and 2 October, where talent will be scouted in all age groups, says Indongo.Two more youngsters that stole the show were the KFW brand ambassadors - Jovian Niigambo and Nadine Kurahumba. Being the only two nominees in the category, they shared the award.

Beating the odds

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Republikein 2025-06-16

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Beating the odds

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