Namibia’s ACE Models earn top awards
Twelve models from ACE Models Namibia recently travelled to South Africa to participate in the ACE Models National Conference which included four days of glitz, glam and runway walking.ACE Models is a franchise with 18 branches across South Africa, Namibia and Australia, of which 14 (with 302 models) were present at this year's conference that took place at Emerald Resort in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa.
According to ACE Models Namibia director, Daphné Voigts, the participants were kept busy, starting with registration and introductions on 22 September, followed by pageant castings, runway castings and the Mr and Miss ACE Model International on the 23rd, where Kelly Ann Scholtz from Namibia ended in the Top 5 of the 13-15 year age group. “Since there were 85 young models in this age group, achieving a Top 5 position is truly an achievement,” Voigts said.
In the Senior Miss ACE Model International, Namibia’s Kelly Ann Basson brought home the title again, crowned as the winner amongst the 61 participants in this category.
Seven-year-old Tristan Voigts brought home the Little Mr ACE Model International title, while Rudi de Klerk who represented Namibia in the 18 years+ category, ended among the Top 5.
The 24th saw the swimwear event for Miss Body Beautiful where after each branch had the opportunity to deliver a performance based on this year’s theme, “Fashion around the world”, which Voigts said took months of planning, choreography, music and outfits.
Finally, on the 25th, it was awards time, with Namibia receiving many compliments and bringing home several prizes.
• Male models 5 to 9 years
Tristan Voigts - Photogenic Model, Best Pageant Model, Best Runway Model, Little Mr ACE Model International, and Little Male ACE Model of the Year
• Male models 18 years +
Rudi de Klerk - Top 5 Mr ACE Model International and Top 5 Best Male Pageant
• Female models teen category 13 to 15 years
Chantel Boeren - Top 5 Body Beautiful
Kelly Ann Scholtz - Top 5 Miss Teen ACE Model International; Top 5 Best Pageant Models; and Overall Top 5 Teen ACE Models of the Year
Marta Andresen - Top 5 Best Runway Model
• Senior category 16 to 18 years
Joane Wolfaardt - Top 5 Senior Photographic Models
Kelly Ann Basson - Senior Photographic Model; Top 5 Senior Best Pageant Model; Top 5 Senior Best Runway Model; Senior Miss ACE Model International (second consecutive year); and Senior ACE Model of the year (second consecutive year).
Honour
Prizes are also awarded to the Director of the Year and Franchise of the Year.
“To my surprise, I was awarded as Director of the Year!” Voigts said. “This was not only totally unexpected, but also an incredible honour. I also won Director of the Year in 2014 and 2017. The competition is not only strong between the models, but also between the directors and branches. Everyone puts an amazing amount of time and effort into their modelling schools and it's a privilege to be part of the ACE Models brand.”
Voigts added that ACE Models Namibia is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. “It is just by grace that I am where I am today. Time flies and as they say, ‘if you love what you do, you don't work a day in your life’. Working with children is my passion. I can't promise anyone that I can put their faces on a billboard or the cover of Vogue, but I can promise you that you or your child will walk out of my studio with more self-confidence than you walked in with. These days we need much more self-confidence than we realise.”