Maritz fires back at Selma Kamanya

Miss Namibia national director Conny Maritz has fired back at claims made by 2018 reigning queen Selma Kamanya, that she received no financial support and experienced emotional abuse by individuals within the organisation.

Responding to the allegations in a statement today, Maritz asserted that Kamanya’s claim that she did not benefit from the portion of the public funds raised which she was ‘entitled to’ are untrue and that she received training and various sponsorships.

Maritz also emphasised that extravagant expectations and “poor little rich girl” attitudes run counter to the ethos of the Miss Namibia Organisation and that the organisation stands for “Beauty for Charitable Purposes”.

She also said Selma never shared her experience with the organisers and think Selma was influenced to deliberately use social media as a platform to cast doubt on the organisation.

“The organization provides only what it consider as reasonable and necessary for Namibia’s delegate to proudly represent Namibia as a goodwill ambassador at international pageants. It has made it clear to all contestants from Namibia at international pageants that if they wish to acquire dresses, jewellery and accessories beyond that provided, they will have to raise or obtain funds to finance it themselves. It is expressly provided in the contract that she and her parents had signed.”

With regards to Kamanya’s claim that she only received “an occasional appearance fee”, Maritz said she received a fee of N$3 000 for out-of-Khomas appearances and N$1 500 for local appearances except in instances where “we had agreed with her to the contrary such as appearances for sponsors, charitable organizations”.

“If she had to attend appearances outside of Windhoek, she was flown there or was compensated for the fuel used by the vehicle that was availed [sic] to her for official duties and personal use,” she said.

Maritz asserted that “if anyone enters the Miss Namibia competition in the expectation that it will only be a life of glitter and glamour and that she will be cuddled in adulation, extravagant luxury or riches and use her title to seek personal wealth, she is sadly mistaken and should not bother at all.”

Maritz expressed disappointment at Kamanya for issuing a media statement without prior notice and without according the organisation an opportunity to respond.

“One must ask oneself (perhaps rhetorically) whether that is the conduct expected of a person who now claims that the purpose of issuing her press statement was to make a meaningful input ‘to enhance the Miss Namibia experience,” she charged.

Since Kamanya’s revelation, several former Miss Namibia titleholders have spoken out publicly to back up her claims. Some recounted their own experiences with regard to the handling of financial matters during their reign as well as the alleged emotional abuse they endured.