Newly crowned Miss Namibia 2026 Charene Labuschagne says growing up in an entrepreneurial family has shaped her decision to make women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship central to her reign.
Labuschagne, who was crowned on Saturday, says watching her parents build businesses gave her an early understanding of both the opportunities and challenges associated with entrepreneurship.
“I’m incredibly passionate about entrepreneurship. I speak often about the fact that I was raised by entrepreneurs. That’s really such a massive part of my story,” she told Desert FM earlier this week.
Labuschagne said her parents started their businesses about 28 years ago and believes Namibia has developed a wealth of entrepreneurial knowledge that can be used to support others.
“There’s absolutely no reason why anybody, especially women, should go feeling like they don’t have the skills or the resources at their disposal,” she said.
“I’m on a mission to connect women with the entrepreneurial knowledge within our country.”
She described herself as a feminist and said her broader objective is to help Namibian women become financially independent.
Labuschagne identified conservation as another cause close to her heart, although entrepreneurship and skills development will be her immediate focus.
She said she hopes to later highlight Namibia’s conservation industry, its workers and its successful initiatives.
Labuschagne acknowledged that her journey to the crown was marked by self-doubt.
She described imposter syndrome as one of the biggest challenges she experienced during the competition.
“The lessons are plentiful. I could actually write a book about it,” she said.
Labuschagne said support from her family, including her mother and sister, who was also a Miss Namibia finalist, helped her overcome her doubts.
She credited her upbringing and determination for helping her persevere.
Reflecting on her crowning moment, Labuschagne said the announcement brought overwhelming emotion but also made her aware of the responsibility attached to the title.
“But what really brought me into that moment was not the sense of, ‘I won’. It was that moment of realising: What a privilege, what a responsibility,” she said.
Her immediate priority is preparing to represent Namibia internationally, Labuschagne said.
“Looking forward to the next 12 months, the short term of it is intense preparation to represent my country with authenticity, confidence and conviction on an international stage,” she said.
She then plans to connect businesses, organisations, creatives and artisans to create opportunities for collaboration.
Labuschagne urged young women to pursue their ambitions despite uncertainty.
“Go chase it,” she said.
She hopes to leave a legacy of encouraging Namibians to ask questions about what can be built together.
“I really want to be remembered, not as a queen that had all the answers, but as a woman who asks bigger questions, like ‘What if?’, ‘Why not?’ and ‘What can we build together?’.”
Labuschagne said she hopes to use the next 12 months to connect Namibians, particularly women, with the skills, resources and networks needed to build sustainable livelihoods.
