Superstar who sparks light wherever she goes

Today, she's living the dream life of an entertainer. “It's like rain on your skin on a hot summer's day. That's what it feels like to find something that you are genuinely good at.” This is how poet, author, Miss Grand 2016, host and soon-to-be medical doctor, Esperance Luvindao, describes her life. Luvindao speaks to tjil about her latest project titled Broken Light and her career. tjil (T): Who is Esperance?Esperance (E): I am the last-born of five children. I matriculated from St Paul's College and went to study medicine at Unam. While some people have a passion for numbers, I have a passion for blood and body parts. The things people call disgusting like blood and nasty cuts in casualty at the end of the month, I'm the guy for that, lol. The genuine gratitude from a patient after you've helped make them feel better or the tears of appreciation of a mother after you helped save her baby is what makes it worth it. I am also a writer, poet, model and presenter. T: That's quite a handful. How do you get it all done?E: Everyone asks me the same question, hahaha. Well, to be honest, you make time for what is important and hierarchy is what keeps me going. God first, family second, school third. Everything else comes thereafter. I would go insane if I did not have anything to relieve the pressure of medical school. I don't know where the love for pageantry, presenting and writing came from but, growing up people would tell me that I was a jack of all trades. I play the drums, I'm a dancer and I sing. But focus is the key. My family is so supportive and that is helpful.T: Let's talk about your modelling career, when did that start? E: I am unapologetically myself and that is the most powerful thing a woman can be. I started modelling in 2010 when I joined a modelling agency. I started taking part in local pageants and fashion shows until my crowning as Miss Grand Namibia 2016. I took part in Miss Grand because I knew that it would launch me to another level of skill and confidence. People always underestimate how life changing these international pageants is. I know for a fact that, a woman who has taken part in a national or international pageant always comes out braver and more determined to be the best that they can be. Unfortunately, I could not travel for Miss Grand international in Las Vegas' last October as I was about to sit for my fourth year exams. Pageants are gold. They build women from a perspective not many understand. If I could suggest one thing to all pageants around the world is that their projects should be lifelong. Your responsibility to the community does not end when you hand over your crown. T: Tell us more about your event hosting career?E: I would host local shows within my community and it was something I enjoyed doing. The NAMAs was my first big stage event to host and the highlight of my hosting career. I knew I had worked hard for this opportunity and I gave it my all at the auditions. It opened me up to a world of opportunities, allowed people to see my talent and my phone has been buzzing ever since, lol. Miss Namibia was another huge opportunity. I always thought 2017 would be the year I actually took part in Miss Namibia but being on the other side of it made me see how much work those women put into it, and I truly appreciate them for that. It was a phenomenal experience to interview the previous Miss Namibia queens and rub shoulders with the likes of Michelle McLean. T: Let's talk about Esperance the poetess.E: Poetry, now that is my area of expertise. I started in 2011 and it has been great and pressurising at the same time. People don't want cliché, they want art. So you constantly have to keep improving. When I started I was good but now I am even better. Time and experience grooms your skill. If you are willing to grow, it is inevitable. I opened for Da Truth when he came here; I performed at Spoken Word and events too. I have so much planned and so much to do it feels like I am forever working on a project. My upcoming project is the launch of my first poetry video. It will be soon so, keep your eyes on me.T: When did the writer in you emerge? E: I started writing in 2007. I just never had the courage to put my work out there. I love writing fiction. It is a burst of creativity that needs nothing to exist. My written pieces are rather extreme, but they get people thinking, and dreaming or even crying and that is the most beautiful part, evoking emotion with art. Broken Light is my short story that I launched this week means the world to me. It's something I have been working on for quite a while. Launching it meant I was putting work out there for the world to scrutinise. It meant that I was taking another step in my journey as an author and it meant that I had grown. Writing is about more than just being good at English. I learnt that and now I am ready to share my talent with the world. I am working on my book that will be a Namibian birthed fiction masterpiece. In the meantime I believe that Namibian writers should receive much more credit. I look forward to the days when we have Namibian annual writers' awards. I look forward to the day when writers are celebrated for the stars they are.June Shimuoshili

Superstar who sparks light wherever she goes

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-31

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Superstar who sparks light wherever she goes

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-31

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