Namibian model Viivi, who represented Namibia at this year’s Top Model United Kingdom 2023 Awards, has won the best beach body award.
The main awards took place on 16 September at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London as part of the 16th edition of the awards, which were held during the London Fashion Week.
Viivi says she could not believe she won the award.
“It’s wonderful to receive not just recognition, but public recognition for something you have done. In this case, something I took a chance on doing,” she says.
“Awards make us feel good – especially considering the challenge of being an African model. They are an acknowledgement of a job well done and justification for the agony, the self-doubt, and the hard work,” she says.
Viivi says she is dedicating the award to young women and men who find representation and validation in her work.
“I want them to never be afraid of dreaming big, like I once was.”
Viivi says she will in future work with a charity organisation, and will be training upcoming models for international shows alongside Visions Models in Namibia, which has exposed her to international competitions.
She says she will be attending fashion shows in Korea and China in December.
The Top Model Awards is one of the UK’s biggest modelling awards, she says.
The agency has a track record of finding new modelling talent, highlighting designers, establishing careers, and making dreams come true.
“The fact that I have accomplished so much despite my career is definitely a dream come true. I’m motivated by the opportunity to represent Namibia on these global stages,” says Viivi.
“I had plans to train upcoming models to follow their passion of being successful models, and having visited so many countries, I believe that this too contributes to tourism,” she says.
Viivi has been modelling for the past nine years.
