By Rinelda Mouton
Speaking to Confidente from Europe, former Mr Gay Namibia, Wendelinus Hamutenya, now known as Maria Del Rosario Hamutenya-Jeremia, said that transitioning into a woman has been a bittersweet journey.
She said she is finally living her true life, but has also lost some relatives and friends along the way. Hamutenya-Jeremia and her husband left Namibia in 2022.
She admitted that losing people has been painful.
“To my family and friends who have chosen to step away, I harbour no ill will, but I must focus my energy on my own happiness. To those who chose to leave and reject me, I would say that my truth is not up for negotiation. Embrace the woman who I am today and respect me for exactly who I am. I am deeply focused on living my authentic truth,” Hamutenya-Jeremia said.
She further revealed that she has experienced cyberbullying and transphobic attacks on social media.
She said online bullying has become common, but it still takes an emotional toll. However, she refuses to let negative comments define her self-worth. Instead, she focuses on positivity, support systems, and her personal goals.
“I stay positive by intentionally focusing on the real-world impact of my work and the community of people who support me. I see online bullying as background noise. I focus on my goals and surround myself with real-life friends and my husband. I protect my peace by blocking toxic accounts,” she added.
Hamutenya-Jeremia described her transition as a journey of self-discovery and becoming comfortable in her own skin, saying she is now living fully and authentically.
“I transitioned because living as my true, authentic self is the only way I can be genuinely happy. For a long time, my internal sense of who I am did not match the outside. My transition has brought immense inner peace, finally aligning my external life with who I have always been inside.”
Hamutenya-Jeremia said the process required immense courage, as it meant defying societal expectations and facing misunderstanding. She added that it has taught her self-love, acceptance, and resilience.
She said she has no regrets about her journey and feels proud of who she has become.
“My transition has been an incredible journey of self-discovery. I am glad I finally chose to live authentically. Today, I feel confident and proud of the woman I have become. It has shaped me into someone who recognises her own strength and hopes to in- spire others to embrace their truth.”
She began her transition in 2023. The former Mr Gay Namibia said the process is lengthy and costly, and she has so far invested about N$459,200.
She has undergone beard hair removal, seven sessions of voice training, and bottom surgery (vaginoplasty). She is also on hormone treatment, including estrogen patches and testosterone blockers.
She said her next step is Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) in Spain. “I moved abroad to make my transition successful with fewer distractions and less judgment from homophobic people. It is very difficult to access comprehensive healthcare services in Namibia”
Hamutenya-Jeremia said she will return to Namibia when the time is right, but for now she re- mains focused on her transition and work abroad.
