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 Number of wins under Miss Namibia 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 YearMiss NamibiaRegion 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 2024Prisca AnyoloKhomas2025Johanna Swartbooi ǁKharas |2026 |Charene Labuschagne |#nbcdigitalnews |Khomas Region Wins by region RegionTitlesYears 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
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) NotesConny 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
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) NotesMiss World Namibia directorship — a franchise holder to Miss World from 2025 2026 Ohangwena Elly Penomwene Aron Unplaced 2025 Khomas Selma Carlicia Kamanya Top 8 Head to Head Challenge (Top 8) Previously Miss Namibia 2018Conny 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 Miss World Sport 2014 Otjozondjupa Brumhilda Ochs Unplaced Miss World Top Model (Top 20) 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 Miss World Beach Beauty (Top 20) 2008 Khomas Martha Elizabeth "Marelize" Robberts Unplaced Miss World Top Model (Top 32) 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
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) NotesConny 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
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) NotesBobby 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
External links Miss Namibia official site