Taylor Hays has recently been crowned the inaugural Miss Glow By The Bay 2026, emerging as the overall winner of a pageant designed to combine youth empowerment, creativity and environmental awareness.
Hays was joined at the top of the results by Jo Lien Engelbrecht, who was named 1st Runner-Up, while Grace Venacio secured the 2nd Runner-Up position. Engelbrecht enjoyed a particularly successful evening, also receiving the title of Best Species Representative, highlighting her strong representation of the environmental theme at the heart of Glow By The Bay.
The additional Miss Eco Radiance title was awarded to Marely Hannam, further reinforcing the pageant’s focus on environmental awareness and conservation. Founded by educator Lucia Lucas, Glow By The Bay was created as more than a traditional beauty pageant.
The initiative uses creativity, fashion and performance as a platform to educate young people about Namibia’s unique coastal environment and the importance of protecting it. This year’s environmental focus included migratory birds and wetland species, with the initiative also reaching more than 14 primary and secondary schools through an environmental outreach programme.
Lucas has stressed that the crown is not the ultimate goal of the initiative, but rather a vehicle to capture young people’s attention and encourage them to learn about and appreciate the environment. “The crown lasts for a moment. The impact should last much longer,” Lucas said. With Hays now carrying the Miss Glow By The Bay title, the organisers hope the new ambassadors will continue promoting environmental awareness and inspiring young people to turn curiosity and appreciation into meaningful action.
Glow By The Bay is ultimately about making environmental education memorable and turning inspiration into action. Joachim Naulaerts of the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), who highlighted the organisation’s 35-year legacy of protecting Namibia’s natural heritage. Naulaerts noted that despite the lagoon’s international environmental importance, many young people in the area remain unaware of its significance.
Naulaerts pointed out that many young people living in Walvis Bay remain unaware of the international importance of the environment on their doorstep. “The wetland supports an estimated 91 000 waterbirds, including flamingos, pelicans and bar-tailed godwits, with some migratory species travelling thousands of kilometres between their breeding and non-breeding grounds” he said.
By Rudi Bowe
