Behind the scenes of beauty pageants

Behind the glamour of beauty pageants lies a demanding reality: contestants and winners often pause personal goals to meet the responsibilities that come with the crown.

Several past contestants told The Namibian how they navigated the sacrifices and what life looked like after their reign.

Georgia Garises, second runner-up for Miss Namibia 2024 and Miss Congeniality, says balancing commitments was a steep adjustment.

“When I entered Miss Namibia, the first thing I had to adjust was my studies. I always laugh and say, ‘My books were looking at me like, so it’s glitter and gowns over us now?’ But the reality is, Miss Namibia is a full-time commitment. You don’t just wear the title, you carry the responsibility. That meant travelling with the organisation for charitable causes and so on, but I knew that’s what I signed up for,” she says.

Garises says she still made time for assignments and work, even if it meant late nights.

“It wasn’t easy, but I didn’t want to come out of that year feeling like I had lost myself. There were moments I felt pulled in two directions, but I reminded myself this was a once-in-a-lifetime platform. Sleep sometimes had to take the backseat. After my reign ended, I went straight back to my studies and personal projects. I knew the crown was never meant to replace my goals, it was meant to strengthen them.”

For Miss Earth Namibia 2023 Martha Kautanevali, the crown meant pressing pause on parts of her career as a civil engineer and project manager.

“I had to pause certain commitments, most notably my favourite hobby, motorcycle riding, my professional growth, postgraduate studies and personal projects, to fully embrace the duties of the crown. It was not always easy. I had moments questioning whether I was falling behind, but I quickly realised this season was preparing me in ways I could not measure at the time,” she says.

Kautanevali adds that the experience gave her new skills and networks.

“What kept me grounded was knowing that pageantry was never about a title, but about impact. As Miss Earth Namibia, I created and launched my initiative ‘Donate a Tree,’ promoting environmental education in schools, orphanages and public spaces. Once I stepped out of the Miss Namibia light, I returned with clarity and renewed focus. I picked up my studies and am now pursuing a master’s in environmental engineering and a postgraduate diploma in environmental law and policy.”

Miss World Namibia 2023 Leoné van Jaarsveld describes her journey as transformative.

“Before placing as the first runner-up in the 2022 Miss Namibia pageant, I spent six years pursuing my dreams and aspirations, navigating a path filled with dedication, perseverance and sacrifice. That journey culminated in being crowned Miss World Namibia 2023 and finally realising my dream of representing Namibia at Miss World International in Mumbai, India, in March 2024,” she says.

She adds that pageantry opened professional doors in Namibia’s energy, oil and gas sectors.

“These experiences not only broadened my professional perspective but also strengthened my passion for entrepreneurship. I have learned that even amid trials, every puzzle piece eventually falls into place.”

For Miss Teen Namibia 2022 Zoë Karsten, being only 17 at the time made the experience especially challenging.

“I did not realise how much of myself and my time I would be giving to this role. While my friends were preparing for university and focusing on exams, I was working on speeches, travelling and dedicating myself to the crown. It was exciting, but also challenging,” she says.

Karsten says her academics had to take a backseat.

“There were numerous moments when I felt torn between my goals for the future and the commitments of the present. However, the experience taught me that sometimes chasing one dream requires you to pause others and that is not a crime. After my reign ended, I returned to my studies with renewed focus.”

Miss Namibia Organisation chief executive Umbi Karuaihe-Upi says the pageant is a professional commitment with clear expectations.

“The Miss Namibia pageant is a national contest open to eligible participants who sign a contract similar to any legal agreement. While some entrants may leave after realising the demands of the competition, it operates as a business, not a charity, though it may include charitable work. Winners do not put their lives on hold; instead, they benefit from the opportunities the title offers, having chosen to join an organisation with clear expectations – much like accepting a job offer and fulfilling its responsibilities,” she says.

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