arvau

Wikipedia / Miss Namibia

Miss Namibia is a national beauty pageant in Namibia. The winner represents Namibia at Miss Universe pageant.

The organization of Miss Namibia has produced one Miss Universe. Michelle McLean was crowned Miss Universe 1992, and became the first Namibian woman to win the title. McLean had been crowned Miss Namibia 1991 before Miss Universe, and also placed as the fourth runner-up at Miss World 1991. In addition, Umbi Karuaihe Upi has been the miss Namibia Chief Executive Officer for 35 years and she ended this career in 2026.

History

The first Miss Namibia contest was held in 1980 by Nic Kruger, the founder of the pageant. After that there are three national directors: Nic Kruger (1980–1996), Danie Botes (1997–1998) and Conny Maritz (1999–today). The first Miss Namibia was organised by the Afrikaans newspaper Die Republikein in 1980 and conducted by Nic Kruger, the founding director of the pageant. The winner Desèré Kotze was allowed to participate in the Miss Universe contest representing Namibia, but wore the South African flag. After that there are two further national directors: Nic Kruger (1980–1996), Danie Botes (1997–1998) and Conny Maritz (1999–today). According to the source from Glynis Fester (Miss RSA 1977)—the first Miss SWA-Namibia was Ann Parker who was crowned by her on 18 June 1977. This is on public record in the Rapport published on 19 June 1977. She did not go to any international pageants.

Titles

<big>Number of wins under Miss Namibia</big>

Pageant

Wins

Miss Universe

1

Miss World

0

Miss Earth

0

Miss Charm

0

Note that the year designates the time Miss Namibia has acquired that particular pageant franchise.

Titleholders

Year

Miss Namibia

Region

1980

Bernice Tembo

Khomas

1981

Antoinette Knoetze

Erongo

1982

Desere Kotze

Khomas

1983

Astrid Klotzch

Khomas

1984

Peta Harley-Peters

Khomas

1985

Alice Pfeiffer

Khomas

1986

Jo-Rina Meyer

Oshikoto

1987

Bianca Pragt

Khomas

1988

Caroline du Preez

Khomas

1989

Emsie Esterhuizen

Khomas

1990

Ronel Liebenberg

Khomas

1991

Michelle McLeanMiss Universe 1992

Khomas

1992

Anja Schroeder

Khomas

1993

Barbara Kahatjipara

Khomas

1995

Patricia Burt

Khomas

1996

Faghma Absalom

Khomas

1997

Sheya Shipanga

Khomas

1998

Retha Reinders

Khomas

1999

Vaanda Katjuongua

Khomas

2000

Mia de Klerk

Khomas

2001

Michelle Heita

Khomas

2002

Ndapewa Alfons

Kavango East

2003

Petrina Thomas

ǁKharas

2004

Adele Basson

Khomas

2005

Leefa Shiikwa

Khomas

2006

Anna Svetlana Nashandi

Khomas

2007

Marichen Luiperth

Erongo

2008

Marelize Robberts

Khomas

2009

Happie Ntelamo

Zambezi

2010

Odile Gertze

Khomas

2011

Luzaan van Wyk

Khomas

2012

Tsakana Nkandih

Oshikoto

2013

Paulina Malulu

Khomas

2014

Brumhilda Ochs

Otjozondjupa

2015

Steffi Van Wyk

Khomas

2016

Lizelle Esterhuizen

Khomas

2017

Suné January

Hardap

2018

Selma Kamanya

Khomas

2019

Nadja Breytenbach

Khomas

2021

Chelsi Shikongo

Erongo

2022

Cassia Sharpley

Khomas

2023

Jameela Uiras

Khomas

2024

Prisca Anyolo

Khomas

2025

Johanna Swartbooi

ǁKharas

|2026 |Charene Labuschagne |#nbcdigitalnews |Khomas Region

Wins by region

Region

Titles

Years

Khomas

32

1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024

Erongo

3

1981, 2007, 2021

ǁKharas

2

2003, 2025

Oshikoto

1986, 2012

Hardap

1

2017

Otjozondjupa

2014

Zambezi

2009

Kavango East

2002

Titleholders under Miss Namibia org.

Miss Universe Namibia

  1. The main winner of Miss Namibia represents her country at the Miss Universe. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.

Year

Region

Miss Namibia

Placement at Miss Universe

Special award(s)

Notes

Conny Maritz directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe from 1999

2026

Khomas

Charene Labuschagne

TBA

2025

ǁKharas

Johanna Swartbooi

Unplaced

2024

Khomas

Prisca Anyolo

Unplaced

2023

Khomas

Jameela Uiras

Top 20

2022

Khomas

Cassia Sharpley

Unplaced

2021

Erongo

Chelsi Tashaleen Shikongo

Unplaced

As it turns out, Shikongo was named after the late American actress Chelsi Smith, who was crowned Miss Universe 1995.

colspan=6

2019

Khomas

Nadja Breytenbach

Unplaced

2018

Khomas

Selma Carlicia Kamanya

Unplaced

2017

Hardap

Suné January

Unplaced

2016

Khomas

Lizelle Esterhuizen

Unplaced

2015

Khomas

Steffanie "Steffi" van Wyk Freygang

colspan=3

2014

Otjozondjupa

Brumhilda Ochs

colspan=3

2013

Khomas

Paulina Nangula April Malulu

Unplaced

Before naming as Miss Namibia, Paulina was "Miss International Namibia 2012" and represented Namibia at Miss International 2012 where she made the Top 15 semi-finalists in Okinawa, Japan.

2012

Oshikoto

Tsakana Nkandih

Unplaced

2011

Khomas

Odile Madeline Gertze

colspan=3

Khomas

Luzaan van Wyk

colspan=3

2010

Khomas

Odile Madeline Gertze

colspan=3

2009

Zambezi

Happie Namsiku Ntelamo

Unplaced

2008

Erongo

Marichen Jolandi Luiperth

colspan=3

2007

Khomas

Laurencia Endjala

colspan=3

2006

Khomas

Anna Svetlana Nashandi

Unplaced

2005

Khomas

Adele Basson

Unplaced

2004

ǁKharas

Petrina Twahangwapo Thomas

colspan=3

2003

Kavango East

Ndapewa Alfons

Top 10

2002

Khomas

Michelle Heita

Unplaced

2001

Khomas

Michelle Heita

colspan=3

2000

Khomas

Mia de Klerk

Unplaced

1999

Khomas

Vaanda Katjuongua

Unplaced

Danie Botes directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1997―1998

1998

Khomas

Retha Reinders

Unplaced

1997

Khomas

Sheya Shipanga

Unplaced

Nic Kruger directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1981―1996

1996

Khomas

Faghma Absalom

Unplaced

1995

Khomas

Patricia Burt

Unplaced

Namibia became the official venue of the Miss Universe 1995 competition.

1994

Khomas

Christalene Barbara Kahatjipara

Unplaced

  • Miss Congeniality

1993

Khomas

Anja Schroeder

Unplaced

1992

Khomas

Michelle McLean

Miss Universe 1992

1991

Khomas

Ronel Liebenberg

Unplaced

1990

Khomas

Emarencia "Emsie" Esterhuizen

colspan=3

colspan=6

1986

Oshikoto

Jo-Rina Meyer

colspan=3

1985

Khomas

Alice Elizabeth Pfeiffer

colspan=3

1984

Khomas

Peta Harley-Peters

Unplaced

1983

Khomas

Astrid Klotzch

Unplaced

1982

Khomas

Desere Anita Kotze

Unplaced

1981

Erongo

Antoinette Knoetze

Unplaced

1980

Khomas

Bernice Tembo

colspan=3

Miss World Namibia

  1. The runner-up of Miss Namibia will select as Miss World Namibia title. In some years the main winner also selected to Miss World before 2021.

Year

Region

Miss World Namibia

Placement at Miss World

Special award(s)

Notes

Miss World Namibia directorship — a franchise holder to Miss World from 2025

2026

Ohangwena

Elly Penomwene Aron

TBA

TBA

2025

Khomas

Selma Carlicia Kamanya

Top 8

Previously Miss Namibia 2018

Conny Maritz directorship — a franchise holder to Miss World between 1999−2023

colspan=6

2023

Erongo

Leoné Renate van Jaarsveld

Unplaced

1st Runner-Up of Miss Namibia 2022

colspan=6

2021

Kunene

Annerie Maré

Unplaced

1st Runner-Up of Miss Namibia 2021

colspan=6

2016

Khomas

Lizelle Esterhuizen

colspan=3

2015

Khomas

Steffanie "Steffi" van Wyk Freygang

Unplaced

2014

Otjozondjupa

Brumhilda Ochs

Unplaced

2013

Khomas

Paulina Nangula April Malulu

Unplaced

2012

Oshikoto

Tsakana Nkandih

colspan=3

2011

Khomas

Luzaan van Wyk

Unplaced

2010

Khomas

Odile Madeline Gertze

Top 25

2009

Zambezi

Happie Namsiku Ntelamo

Unplaced

2008

Khomas

Martha Elizabeth "Marelize" Robberts

Unplaced

2007

Erongo

Marichen Jolandi Luiperth

Unplaced

2006

Khomas

Anna Svetlana Nashandi

Top 17

2005

Khomas

Leefa Shiikwa

Unplaced

2004

Khomas

Adele Basson

Unplaced

2003

ǁKharas

Petrina Twahangwapo Thomas

Unplaced

2002

Kavango East

Ndapewa Alfons

Unplaced

2001

Khomas

Michelle Heita

Unplaced

2000

Khomas

Mia de Klerk

Unplaced

1999

Khomas

Vaanda Katjuongua

colspan=3

Danie Botes directorship — a franchise holder to Miss World between 1997―1998

1998

Khomas

Retha Reinders

colspan=3

1997

Khomas

Sheya Shipanga

Unplaced

Nic Kruger directorship — a franchise holder to Miss World between 1989―1996

1996

Khomas

Faghma Absalom

colspan=3

1995

Khomas

Patricia Burt

colspan=3

colspan=6

1993

Khomas

Christalene Barbara Kahatjipara

Unplaced

1992

Khomas

Linda Sharon Schultz

Unplaced

Khomas

Anja Schroeder

colspan=3

1991

Khomas

Michelle McLean

Top 5

Later Miss Universe 1992.

1990

Khomas

Ronel Liebenberg

Unplaced

1989

Khomas

Emarencia "Emsie" Esterhuizen

Unplaced

Miss Earth Namibia

  1. Began 2022 the organization of Miss Namibia is an official national franchise holder for Miss Earth. One of the runners-up at Miss Namibia will go to Miss Earth pageant.

Year

Region

Miss Earth Namibia

Placement at Miss Earth

Special award(s)

Notes

Conny Maritz directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Earth from 2022

2025

Omaheke

Ndeshipewa Angula

Top 25

  • Best Bikini (Africa)

Contestant of Miss Namibia 2025

2024

Khomas

Albertina Haimbala

Top 12

1st Runner-Up of Miss Namibia 2023

2023

Ohangwena

Martha Kautanevali

Unplaced

2nd Runner-Up of Miss Namibia 2023

2022

Khomas

Diana Andimba

Top 20

  • Best Eco Video (Africa)

2nd Runner-Up of Miss Namibia 2022

Miss Charm Namibia

  1. Began 2024 the organization of Miss Namibia is an official national franchise holder for Miss Charm. One of the runners-up or finalists at Miss Namibia will go to Miss Charm pageant.

Year

Miss Charm Namibia

Placement

Special award(s)

Notes

Bobby Kaanjosa directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Charm from 2024

2025

Alica Mokhatu

Unplaced

Top 10 finalists at Miss Namibia 2025

2024

Georgia Garises

Top 10

2nd Runner-Up of Miss Namibia 2024

Notes

References