Miss Namibia 2026 heats up ahead of Top 10 selection

The Miss Namibia 2026 pageant is under way, with the Top 20 semi-finalists announced in March.

The preliminary competition is scheduled for 9 May at Zest Mediterranean Restaurant, ahead of the grand finale in Gobabis in the Omaheke region.

“The audience can expect a dynamic and transparent selection process that goes beyond surface-level judging," Beaulah Boois-Beukes, acting head of PR and marketing and Miss Namibia national director, told tjil.

"The stage is designed to showcase each contestant's authenticity, confidence, intellect and purpose alongside a never-before-seen setup,” she added.

Boois-Beukes said this year’s competition has been highly competitive so far.

“The overall standard has significantly risen, with contestants coming in more prepared, more self-aware, and more driven than ever before."

She added that during the pageant training, the contestants invested time in refining their communication skills, understanding their advocacies and developing their overall presence.

Panel of judges

For this year’s Top 10 selection, a panel of judges from various industries has been assembled, including Gerine Hoff (principal judge), Lebopo Bulayani (international judge from Botswana), Baronice Hans, Steffi van Wyk-Brink, Daphne Voigts, Stella Ipinge and Carla Haak (guest judge – preliminary).

“I am looking forward to seeing the ladies show their boldness, dedication and determination throughout the preliminary stage,” Bulayani, the director of the Miss Independence Kgatleng pageant, told tjil.

She said it is important for contestants not to forget how they will present their projects and "how impactful they will be in changing lives and making Namibia a better place".

Judge Van Wyk-Brink, who was crowned Miss World Namibia in 2015, and is also a sports scientist and coach, highlighted the importance of showcasing Namibian identity and culture during the competition.

"Our cultural heritage speaks about struggles, overcoming and diversity. What makes Namibia so special is the love and respect we have for one another because of our diversity," she said.