Michelle McLean was crowned Miss Namibia 1991 and represented Namibia at Miss World 1991 on 28th December 1991 at the Georgia World Congress Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. She later represented Namibia at Miss Universe 1992 on 9th May 1992 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. She was crowned as the winner of the Miss Universe 1992 at the end of the event finale. This was the first and so far, only time that Namibia won the pageant.
Michelle McLean was 13-years-old when she entered the world of International modelling and starting competing for the international pageants. She was 19-years-old when she was crowned Miss Universe 1992. As a master of ceremonies, Michelle McLean has worked in 26 countries, including South America and Asia. Some of her more memorable events have been the hosting of ‘Opera at the Pyramids’; M-Net’s ‘Face of Africa’ competition in Ghana and Egypt and the Loeries Advertising Awards in both 1998 and 2000.
Michelle is famous not just for her stunning good looks, but her outstanding charity work. Michelle after winning Miss Universe 1992 went on to deliver on her pageant promises, setting up the Michelle McLean Children’s Trust in Namibia, which she continues to support. The Michelle McLean Children Trust has initiated and managed hundreds of projects over the last 24 years. She is also the patron of the Michelle McLean Primary School which is responsible for educating 960 Namibian school children. The school provides entrepreneurial and financial skills training to learners. These are few of the projects established over this time.
Michelle is a sought-after TV presenter, MC and motivational speaker and co-hosted the Miss World pageant held in South Africa during 2009. She was at the forefront of bringing the Miss World pageant to Namibia in 1995. She is one of South Africa’s most successful voice-over artists, director of BrandRock Events, on the board of a prominent real estate company and the recipient of Donald Trump’s Miss Universe Lifetime Recognition Award in 1998.
The model has worked with the likes of international celebrities Angelia Jolie and Brad Pitt to raise millions of dollars for the organisation. Michelle also has a Children’s ward at the Central Hospital in Namibia. Not only is she changing the lives of the poor people in Namibia, but she has another foundation -Donna Terra, in Cape Town.
She is the founder of Business of Beauty - where she coaches women in the beauty industry. This was for her philanthropy work. She was also associated with Lux South Africa and was the face of Lux Lotion. Michelle was also a UNICEF Ambassador for many years and has proven that she is not just a beautiful face, but has a heart of gold. In 2009, Michelle represented South Africa in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. Then again in 2010 to promote South Africa and the Soccer World Cup. Michelle also hosted an event for President Bill Clinton in Davos. In 2010, Michelle hosted live broadcasts in India on YouTube and MTV Asia during the IPL/T20 cricket tournament, while also working with UNEP on its Green Campaign in India.
She currently resides in Florida with her husband, well-known sports presenter, Gary Bailey, and is writing a book for women on how to deal with the self-esteem issues related to the beauty industry. Namibia is justifiably proud of this dynamic woman who embodies the phrase ‘not just a pretty face’.