‘We thought it was a prank’

The moment the teacher called out her number announcing her as Miss Personality, Lizentry !Gaoses was overjoyed.

However, her joy was short-lived when the teacher (name withheld) said she had made a mistake.

!Gaoses was stripped of her sash.

The pageant took place at a school in Windhoek on Friday.

!Gaoses (19) said the incident left her feeling humiliated and embarrassed.

“At first I thought it was a joke, and then I realised it was real. I was so disappointed, humiliated and broken. I am not okay at all,” she says.

“I am a confident person, but I feel this event has triggered low self-esteem in me, and I don’t know how long it will take to overcome such a humiliation.”

Some people in the crowd were taking pictures and videos, she says.

“I couldn’t sleep that night, because I was upset and this brought me down. To be honest, I don’t think I can make it to school tomorrow, because I know I’m going to be a laughing stock,” she says.

!Gaoses’ aunt, Ellen /Awises, who was also present at the event, says the public humiliation could have been avoided.

“She could have left things the way they were after the announcement was done, since the contestant who was given the title was already part of the top five. This is unacceptable,” she says.

!Gaoses sister, Stephanie !Gaoses (23), says: “It’s sad how there are many movements emphasising mental health, however, a teacher who is entrusted with our children’s lives publicly make a remarks such as ‘I don’t care’.

“This puts the values, mission and vision of the school at stake. Staff represent the school. Is this what your school stands for?” she asks.

Addressing the crowd of over two hundred people, the teacher verbally apologised on stage, saying that the judge’s handwriting was illegible.

“I am sorry but I have to do this, but if you don’t accept the apology, I don’t care!” she says.

Commenting on the matter, Windhoek-based clinical phycologist Shaun Whittaker says the school was insensitive and made a mistake, instead of building and encouraging a young person.

“We have to reflect on these beauty pageants as something that should be stopped at our schools.”