By: Julia Heita
Pupkewitz Toyota Namibia’s marketing manager Olivia Gentz has said a decision by the company to give Miss Namibia runner-up Annerie Maré a vehicle more valuable than the one Miss Namibia Chelsi Shikongo received has nothing to do with racism.
Pupkewitz Toyota sponsored two vehicles to Shikongo and Maré to assist in their duties leading up to their participation in Miss Universe and Miss World, respectively.
However, the company came under fire when it was discovered that the Toyota Corolla, which Maré received, was nearly double in value to Shikongo’s Toyota Starlet.
Gentz said that it’s so sad how people are quick to judge and make assumptions.
Shikongo received a Toyota Starlet valued at about N$ 217 500, while Maré’s Toyota Corolla was valued at about N$ 403 500.
“The vehicle we gave her is a little bit more expensive than the one we gave Miss Namibia, but the features are less. Miss Namibia’s, one has a reverse camera and a sportier look. For a lady in her twenties, she would rather buy the Starlet or the Urban Cruiser. The vehicle we had for [Maré] is more of a family car,” Gentz told The Villager.
“The Toyota Starlet is our upcoming vehicle for a 20-something young lady. The Toyota Starlet came out last year. That’s why we gave Miss Namibia that vehicle. When it came up that the runner-up also had to do certain charity work to qualify for Miss World and represent Namibia, they approached us. They asked if we would be able also to sponsor her a vehicle for three months for her to do what she needs to do as she doesn’t own a vehicle.”
According to Gentz, the Toyota Corolla, which the company gave Maré, was the only one in stock as there was a low supply due to the protests in South Africa in July. She further stated that this was the first time in Pupkewitz Toyota’s history to sponsor a vehicle to a runner-up.
“Chelsi is such a nice lady and has a wonderful personality. For everybody to think it has anything to do with racism, it’s so sad what our world has turned into,” said Gentz.
She said the two ladies are looking forward to representing the country in the different pageants.
“I feel Chelsi is the most beautiful girl in Namibia and for her to get this negativity is also not very nice, but she’s taking it very well.”
Pupkewitz Toyota has been sponsoring the Miss Namibia contest for nearly 40 years.
“Annerie came to us requesting for a car to help her to do her charity work, and the Corolla was what we had in stock. We didn’t feel it was okay for Chelsi to share her car,” she said.
She added that Maré would only have the car for three months and give it back.
“Chelsi is still the winner at the end of the day. She’s Miss Namibia and the most beautiful girl.”
The company was also criticised for printing Maré’s name on her vehicle while not on Shikongo’s.
When asked about the printed names on the cars, Gentz said Shikongo has the leading title for Miss Namibia.
“The decision was made because you can’t put on Annerie’s car Miss Namibia World because she is just a finalist going there. She is not Miss World,” explained Gentz.
Gentz said they branded Maré’s car with her name so people would know it was her.
“She is not Miss Namibia, so why would we want to brand it, Miss World Namibia. So, we just put her name there. You would know it’s Annerie, and you would know she is on the road to Miss World,” she said.
Gentz said Miss Namibia’s car branding is pageant standard.
“You will also see it is branded in gold and has the Miss Namibia pageant icon on it. So, it is exclusively for Miss Namibia.”
Gentz said Maré’s branding is not that exclusive.
Gentz said that the company never placed the name of Miss Namibia on the sponsored cars.
Miss Universe will be in December in Israel, while Miss World will take place on 16 December in Puerto Rico.
