Miss Namibia 2026, Charene Labuschagne says, “I Want Us to Build Namibia Together”

With Charene Labuschagne having been crowned Miss Namibia 2026 in Gobabis on Saturday, Future Media News caught up with the new titleholder to find out what she plans to focus on during her reign.

Rechelle Hamases was named first runner-up, while Albertina Haimbala placed second runner-up. In addition to the crown, Labuschagne also walks away with a house from the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) and a brand-new vehicle.

Speaking about the cause she wants to champion, Labuschagne said she wants to encourage Namibians to build together and draw strength from the country’s diversity.

“The main cause that I want to champion during my reign as Miss Namibia is to encourage my nation to build, to collaborate, to work together, to pull from our diversity, our different perspectives, our different ideas, and to truly come together to build a nation that we can be incredibly proud of,” she said.

She added that she hopes to encourage entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity that can help drive the kind of change needed for Namibia to “rise and stand amongst other great nations.”

Turning to young girls watching her journey, Labuschagne echoed the message she delivered on the night of her crowning, urging them not to let the world dim their light.

“I was born with a seed in my heart that I was destined to live a big life… if you have that seed in your heart, nurture it, let it grow, and then shine,” she said.

Labuschagne revealed that female entrepreneurship will be a central focus of her reign, as she works to equip Namibian women with entrepreneurial skills, resources and mentorship.

“I’m on a mission to equip Namibian women with entrepreneurial skills, with resources and with the mentors that they need in order to build sustainable livelihoods for themselves,” she said, describing herself as “a feminist at heart” determined to see more financially independent women across the country.

She believes empowering women economically has ripple effects that extend far beyond the individual.

“When women are equipped to be financially independent… they change communities, they grow families, and at the end of the day that’s what’s going to help us build the Namibia that we deserve to be so incredibly proud of,” she said.

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