Miss World Namibia turns depression, anxiety into purpose

Former Miss Namibia and newly crowned Miss World Namibia 2025 Selma Kamanya (28) has revealed how personal and professional setbacks have pushed her to one of the lowest points in her life at the age of 25, and how she recovered. Speaking at an event in Windhoek recently, she said despite her public success, she went through a difficult period marked by financial strain and self-doubt. “I established two businesses, but about three years later, the foundation’s accounts had run dry and it had no means of bringing the social projects that were close to my heart to life,” Kamanya said. “My biggest dream in life was to be an entrepreneur. I wanted to be a big-shot businesswoman and retire on an island. I thought all my dreams were easy to achieve, but at just 25 years old, I fell into depression and struggled badly with anxiety. “I felt redundant in the world, because the things I was trying to do were not working out for me, and for a brief moment, I had given up on myself.” Kamanya said the support of those around her helped her regain her strength and perspective. “If it was not for the community that surrounded me, I don’t know where I would have been today,” she said. “A dream is almost like a planted seed. You have to bury it, and sometimes the burial can kill the life out of you. But if you don’t give up, there will be success one day.” She said being a beauty queen does not guarantee an easy life, adding that the glamour often masks the intense emotional challenges title holders face. “Wearing the crown is not easy,” she said. “As a pageant title holder, you are never certain that your dream will come true. You get more ‘nos’ than ‘yesses’. The number of things you have to fight daily while staying mentally stable is a task on its own.” Kamanya urged young people to be “stubborn dreamers” and to pursue their ambitions despite obstacles. “Having a dream sounds nice, but it’s not always easy to achieve,” she said. “It’s so simple to say ‘I have a dream’, but it’s difficult to execute. “Believe in the power of your dreams. Being stubborn means trying again despite discouragement or rejection. Sometimes, criticism comes from the people you love, but you must realise you have something inside you the world needs to see,” she said. Kamanya said her journey has taught her the importance of self-discovery and purpose. “Each of us has to discover our gift and make it a reality,” she said. “We all have that spark to achieve our dreams.”