While doing research for yesterday’s post about Chelsi Smith, I came across another beauty queen with the same first name: Chelsi Shikongo.
Chelsi Tashaleen Shikongo was born in Namibia in 1998, and was indeed named after Chelsi Smith, the American who’d won the Miss Universe pageant in Namibia three years earlier.
Shikongo went on to win the title of Miss Namibia 2021, and to represent Namibia at the Miss Universe pageant (which was ultimately won by Harnaaz Sandhu of India). Though Shikongo wasn’t chosen as a finalist, the red dress she wore during the preliminary evening gown competition was inspired by the one that Smith had been wearing when she’d won the crown decades earlier.
Sources:
- Shikololo, Aletta. “At home with Chelsea Shikongo – Getting to know Chelsi.” New Era 11 Jun. 2021.
- “Onwards and upwards for Chelsi … as well wishes stream in for the beauty queen.” New Era 14 Dec. 2021.
Image: Screenshot of the TV broadcast of the 70th Miss Universe pageant