By Staff Reporter
Pageant expert Bobby Kaanjosa has been appointed as the official catwalk coach and choreographer for Miss Universe Kenya 2026.
Kaanjosa, widely recognised within Southern Africa’s beauty and fashion industry for his transformative coaching techniques and international pageant mentorship, will now play a significant role in preparing this year’s Miss Universe Kenya contestants for the national competition and ultimately the global Miss Universe stage.
His appointment marks another major milestone in his growing continental influence within the pageant and modelling industry. Miss Universe Kenya, one of East Africa’s premier beauty competitions, operates under the Miss Universe franchise and is responsible for selecting Kenya’s official representative to the prestigious Miss Universe competition.
The organisation entered a new era in 2024 under the leadership of Kevin Bellwood, who took over the franchise with ambitions of elevating the competition’s standards and international visibility.
Known for his exceptional run- way training, stage presence development, model grooming and contestant mentorship, Kaanjosa has steadily built a respected reputation within the African pageantry scene over the past several years.
Originally from Walvis Bay, Kaanjosa began making waves in the industry through his passion for fashion, beauty and youth empowerment.
His work eventually expanded into international model placement and pageant coordination, where he successfully facilitated opportunities for African models and beauty queens to compete internationally in countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.
In 2018, he founded “Pageant Girls by Bobby K”, a platform dedicated to training and representing aspiring beauty queens. The initiative was later rebranded into “Walk by Bobby Kaanjosa”, a mentoring and training academy aimed at developing confidence, stage presence, communication skills and overall personal growth among young models and pageant contestants.
Over the years, Kaanjosa has worked with numerous contestants across various pageant systems, helping many refine their runway techniques and public presentation.
He expertise in choreographyand pageant preparation has positioned him as one of Namibia’s emerging authorities in pageantry mentorship. Among his notable achievements, Kaanjosa secured the Namibian franchise for Miss Petite Global in 2023, further cementing his role as an international pageant stakeholder and national director.
While his career has been marked by growth and recognition, Kaanjosa’s journey has also come with challenges often experienced within the competitive world of pageantry. Like many industry professionals, he has navigated the pressures of building sustainable platforms, managing contestants and creating international opportunities within an industry that is constantly evolving.
These experiences, however, have contributed significantly to his resilience and under- standing of the pageant ecosystem. Industry ob- servers believe his appointment to Miss Universe Kenya could positively impact contestants’ preparation and elevate the overall production quality of the competition.
His strengths in runway coaching, contestant confidence building and stage choreography are expected to bring a fresh dynamic to this year’s event. Speaking on the appointment, Kaanjosa expressed excitement about joining the Miss Universe Kenya journey and working alongside ambitious young women determined to compete on the global stage.
He emphasised that pageantry goes beyond beauty and fashion, highlighting the importance of discipline, leadership, confidence and purpose driven representation. His involvement also reflects the growing collaboration between African pageant industries, where coaches, directors and creatives are increasingly working across borders to strengthen the continent’s representation internationally.
As preparations for Miss Uni- verse Kenya 2026 intensify, all eyes will now be on how Bobby Kaanjosa’s expertise shapes this year’s contestants and contributes to Kenya’s journey toward the Miss Universe stage.
With his passion for mentorship, commitment to excellence and expanding international footprint, Bobby Kaanjosa continues to establish himself as one of Namibia’s influential figures within the African beauty and modelling industry.
