Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Beauty pageant licensing issues saw to it that Miss Namibia 2018, Selma Kamanya, will represent the country at this year’s Miss World Pageant, scheduled for 31 May in Hyderabad, India.
The decision to appoint Kamanya seven years after her crowning as Miss Namibia follows the handover of the national licence by the Miss World Organisation to Miss NGO Namibia earlier this year.
The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), which previously held the Miss World licence, has not publicly explained why it ceased its involvement.
When contacted for comment, NBC spokesperson Beaulah Boois-Beukes said, “Miss Namibia CEO will respond.”
The decision to appoint Kamanya seven years after her initial crowning follows the handover of the national licence by the Miss World Organisation to Miss NGO Namibia earlier this year.
The Miss Namibia Organisation, however, has distanced itself from the development. Chief Executive Officer Umbi Karuaihe-Upi said her office is not involved in Kamanya’s appointment.
“Please call her and ask who is sending her there,” she urged.
Karuaihe-Upi referred to a previous announcement by her organisation, which indicated that the current Miss Namibia, Prisca Anyolo, who will be crowned in July 2023, will not represent Namibia at Miss World. Instead, the next national titleholder, to be crowned in July 2025, will only compete at Miss Universe 2025.
“The first and second runners-up will not represent Namibia on any international platform this year,” she said at the time.
Miss NGO Namibia, in a Facebook post dated 11 April, announced that it now officially holds the Miss World licence for Namibia and has selected Kamanya, Miss Namibia 2018, to represent the country at the 72nd Miss World pageant, scheduled for 31 May in Hyderabad, India.
“This marks the first time the Miss NGO Namibia Organisation will lead the national selection and preparation of our representative to the world stage,” the post read.
According to Miss World Namibia National Director Marco Coetzee, the 2025 licence holder, Miss NGO Namibia, followed a nomination and interview process involving titleholders from previous Miss Namibia pageants to identify a suitable candidate for this year’s pageant.
“The organisation nominated former titleholders and conducted interviews to determine who best aligns with Miss World’s humanitarian mission. Kamanya was selected for her proven commitment to social impact and her alignment with the core values of the Miss World Organisation, ‘Beauty with a Purpose’, Cotzee said.
Kamanya was crowned Miss Namibia in July 2018. The current Miss Namibia is Prisca Anyolo, who won the title in July 2023.
As of Wednesday, the website for the Miss World Organisation still listed Namibia’s representative as “coming soon” and had not publicly confirmed Kamanya’s participation.
The Miss Namibia Organisation’s chief executive officer, Umbi Karuaihe-Upi, distanced her organisation from the development.
“Please call her and ask who is sending her there. The research is clear,” she said.
She referred to a 2024 statement, which indicated that first runner-up Albertina Haimbala would represent Namibia at Miss Earth 2024. That statement also noted that Miss World had begun strictly enforcing a rule allowing only national winners, not runners-up, to compete internationally, unless the winner is unable to participate.
Following that change, the Miss Namibia Organisation confirmed that the next national titleholder, to be crowned in July 2025, would only compete at Miss Universe 2025.
“The first and second runners-up will not represent Namibia on any international platform this year,” Karuaihe-Upi said at the time.
Miss NGO Namibia representatives paid a courtesy call to NBC Director General Stanley Similo this week to discuss preparations for Kamanya’s participation.
The NBC later posted about the meeting on its social platforms.
During the meeting, Similo affirmed NBC’s support.
“Although the exclusive Miss World licence rests with Miss NGO Namibia, NBC exists for all Namibians. Selma Kamanya will be representing the entire nation, carrying the Namibian flag, not a specific organisation or individual, and we will proudly support her,” he said.
Efforts to reach Kamanya for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication. The Windhoek Observer sought to clarify how her appointment came about and how she plans to prepare for Miss World.
Kamanya recently visited Prison Fellowship Namibia as part of her Beauty with a Purpose campaign, which she runs under the Innovation Foundation.
Her initiative focuses on men’s mental health and sustainable agriculture.
