From the pageant stage to the boardroom

Ansua Hammeslaght's life has taken her from representing Namibia on international pageant stages to a leadership role in the corporate world. Today, she is the head of bids at Green Enterprise Solutions (Green), bringing with her years of experience, discipline and a passion for empowering others.

Her involvement in pageantry began in 2014, when she represented Namibia at the Miss Globe competition in China, where she was awarded Miss Personality and nominated for Best New Country.

A year later, she became first runner-up at the Out of Africa Queen competition in South Africa, where she also received the Business Queen Award. In 2016, she was named Queen of Hope Namibia, a title that reflected her passion for inspiring positive change.

Her pageant work continued in 2022 when she represented Namibia at Miss Universe in Bulgaria, where she was crowned Miss Universe Bravery Award.

For Hammeslaght, these experiences helped shape her understanding of what it means to have a platform.

Throughout her years in pageantry, she remained passionate about empowering others, particularly women, while celebrating Namibian culture, heritage and identity.

Throughout, she was also supported by Green, which sponsored her participation on international platforms. That relationship would later become an important part of her career.

“I carry with me a wealth of experience, dedication and passion for empowering others,” Hammeslaght reflects. “Throughout my journey in pageantry, I have consistently represented my country with grace and pride.”

While she became known for her pageant achievements, Hammeslaght was also building her professional career away from the spotlight.

She holds a diploma in business administration and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Her professional experience has included work in the ICT and procurement sectors, where she developed skills across several areas of business.

At Green, she has worked with different teams and interacted with a wide range of clients and suppliers. Her experience includes tender management, sales, company secretarial work and business development.

She has also gained experience working with government procurement requirements, statutory compliance and complex documentation processes. Preparing tender and RFQ submissions required accuracy, attention to detail and the ability to work within strict deadlines.

These experiences have now led her to her latest role as head of bid at Green.

The position requires strategic thinking, precision and leadership – qualities Hammeslaght also developed during her years in pageantry.

For her, the move from the pageant stage to the boardroom represents more than a change in career direction. It is a continuation of the lessons she has gathered along the way.

Pageantry taught her the importance of preparation, confidence and remaining composed under pressure, while her professional experience has allowed her to apply those qualities in a different environment.

The crown may no longer be the focus, but Hammeslaght’s commitment to making an impact remains.

As she steps into her new role, her successes reflect how experiences from one chapter can shape the next, with the former beauty queen now taking on a new kind of responsibility – leading teams, managing bids and contributing to the growth of a company she has been connected to throughout her journey.