10 things about Miss World Africa 2025 first runner-up Selma Kamanya

Selma Carlicia Kamanya represented Namibia in the 72nd edition of Miss World while employed as an executive assistant at a financial services firm and a real estate agency. The country is home to Miss World 1991 finalist and Miss Universe 1992 Michelle McLean.

BIOGRAPHY

Kamanya is a Namibian economist, real estate professional, actor, model and beauty queen who advocates for self-sufficiency and food security. Here are 10 more things about her:

1. She is a native of Windhoek, Namibia.
2. She is an alumna of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Windhoek.
3. She has a bachelor’s degree in economics.
4. In 2018, she founded the Innonation Foundation, an nongovernment organization that focuses on sustainable gardening and mental wellbeing in Namibia.
5. She won Miss Namibia 2018.
6. She was a Miss Universe 2018 candidate.
7. She is in the cast of the 2024 television movie “Lubinda”.
8. On December 31, 2024, she turned 28.
9. She is Miss World Namibia 2025.
10. She was a Miss World 2025 finalist.

TIMELINE

Kamanya is 5’9″ tall. She is fluent in English and Afrikaans and speaks basic Oshivambo.

2010s

• On July 7, 2018, she competed against 11 other Miss Namibia 2018 candidates at the Windhoek Country Club in Windhoek and won the title.
• On December 17, 2018, she represented Namibia at Miss Universe 2018 and competed against 93 other candidates at the Impact Arena in Nonthaburi, Thailand. She was unplaced.

2020s

• In November 2024, she was featured as a model in a fashion show in Windhoek, which ended her five-year hiatus from the runway.
• She played Sara in Leon Mubiana‘s film “Lubinda”, which was released in South Africa on November 10, 2024.
• On April 11, 2025, Miss Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Namibia appointed her Miss World Namibia 2025.
• On May 31, 2025, she represented Namibia at Miss World 2025 and competed against 107 other candidates at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. She finished in the Top 8 and was named runner-up to Miss World Africa 2025 Hasset Dereje of Ethiopia.