Michelle McLean

Namibian model

Neil Bierbaum
​
(div. 2006)​
Gary Bailey
​
(m. 2013)​
Children1Beauty pageant titleholderTitleMiss Namibia 1991
Miss Universe 1992Hair colorBlondeEye colorHazelMajor
competition(s)Miss Namibia 1991
(Winner)
Miss World 1991
(Top 5)
Miss Universe 1992
(Winner) Websitewww.mmct.org.na

Michelle McLean (born 31 July 1972) is a Namibian actress, writer, model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 1992 in Thailand. McLean was 19 years old when she was crowned Miss Universe, and became the first Namibian woman to win the title. McLean had been crowned Miss Namibia 1991 before Miss Universe, and also placed as the fourth runner-up at Miss World 1991.

Early life

At the age of 13, Michelle McLean entered the world of International modelling, being crowned Miss Namibia in 1991 and reaching the all-time high as Miss Universe, crowned in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1992 - at the age of 19.

Personal life

Michelle married Neil Bierbaum. They had a son together, Luke McLean Bierbaum in 1999. They then divorced in 2006.[1]

Michelle McLean and former Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey married on 9 March 2013.[2]

Pageantry

Miss World

Before Miss Universe, McLean competed in Miss World 1991. In the preliminary competition she was tied in second place with a score of 51 along with Miss South Africa, behind the eventual winner, Venezuela's Ninibeth Leal; McLean eventually finished in the top 5.

Miss Universe

In the 1992 Miss Universe pageant she finished second in the preliminary with a score of 9.147, right behind Carolina Izsak of Venezuela, who won all three preliminary competitions. Nonetheless, McLean's warmth and love for children helped clinch the crown over Izsak, Paola Turbay of Colombia, and Madhushri Sapre of India.

Life after Miss Universe

McLean campaigns for charities, notably The Michelle McLean Children Trust in Namibia and the Michelle McLean Primary School, also in Namibia, which has 890 students. The Michelle McLean Children's Trust in Namibia, which focuses on the education and care of under-privileged children, was founded in 1992 and has raised over 50 million dollars to help children in her native Namibia, in Southern Africa.[3]

Michelle was instrumental in bringing the Miss Universe pageant to her country in 1995. In 2009 Michelle co-hosted the Miss World pageant held in South Africa.[4] In 2019, McLean formed part of the selection committee of the Miss Universe 2018.

References

  1. ^ NATASHA, UYS (6 February 2008). "Michelle's the one for Riaan!". The Namibian. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  2. ^ Mclean, Michelle (4 October 2012). "Weddind bells for Mclean,Bailey". Namibian Sun. Archived from the original on 18 December 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Michelle McLean University". Michelle McLean University. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Michelle McLean". Michelle McLean. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss Universe
1992 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Ronel Liebenberg
 Miss Namibia
1991 		Succeeded by
Anja Schröder
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