Sarahléna Manise, Miss Namur contestant: “Behind the rain, there’s always sunshine”
Portraits Bullied at school, she went through eating disorders before regaining her confidence. Aged 18, a nursing student and Miss Namur contestant,…
Portrait · Province of Namur, Belgium
Julia
A midwifery student, she wanted to step out of her comfort zone. On the night of the pageant, the nerves caught up with her, then her name rang out.
Text The info-shooting editorial team
Photo Eric ’t Kindt
Based on interviews published by info-lux.com in August and September 2026
Julia was 20 when info-lux.com met her, in August 2026. A student midwife, she is one of the women from Namur that info-lux.com met among the contestants for the Miss Namur title, as part of Miss Belgique 2027.
What prompted her to sign up: the wish to step out of her comfort zone and prove to herself that she could take on a big challenge.
A human adventure
For Julia, Miss Belgique is more than a beauty pageant: it is a human adventure that helps you grow, brings many encounters and builds self-confidence. Since signing up, she has found herself more persevering and more determined than she thought.
She has learnt to seize opportunities and to throw herself into things she would never have tried before.
Health, motherhood, well-being
In August 2026, she already knows what she would do with the pageant’s visibility: inspire young people to believe in their dreams and step out of their comfort zone. Her studies point her towards specific topics, health, motherhood and well-being, while also promoting her province and its projects.
Nerves, even in the photos
On Saturday 19 September 2026, the provincial rounds take place in La Panne, on the Belgian coast. For Julia, the evening starts under pressure.
Stress really didn’t spare me that night! I was so stressed that I came out in stress blotches, and in some photos it honestly looks like I’ve got terrible sunburn!
Julia, September 2026
At the crucial moment, she forgets her crown too. She laughs about it: “Let’s just say stress really doesn’t agree with me!” That evening, Alizée, elected Miss Liège, also left without hers.
Miss Namur 2027
Julia is crowned Miss Namur. The announcement remains a moment apart: “There was a huge amount of stress, then all of a sudden an immense sense of relief and indescribable joy.”
It felt as if everything stopped for a few seconds.
Julia, September 2026
After all the preparation, the doubts and the stress, hearing my name at that exact moment was just incredible.
Julia, September 2026
What she remembers most is how the adventure changed her.
This experience took me out of my comfort zone, helped me gain self-confidence and revealed a side of my personality I didn't necessarily know.
Julia, September 2026
Her advice to future contestants is simple: “If you’re hesitating, go for it. You have absolutely nothing to lose and so much to gain!” Next step: the national final of Miss Belgique 2027.
Julia in the media
Contestant portrait, feature, winner interview: her articles from 2026, oldest to most recent.
· info-lux.com
Julia, 20, Miss Namur 2027 contestant: a human adventure above all
Her contestant profile, as told to Noémie Martin. Official portrait by Eric ’t Kindt.
· info-lux.com
Miss Belgique 2027: the 15 contestants from Wallonia and Brussels, province by province
The feature on the contestants, province by province.
· info-lux.com
Julia crowned Miss Namur 2027
The interview after the final on 19 September in La Panne.
· info-lux.com
Miss Belgique 2027: the winners of the provincial pageants in La Panne
The results province by province and interviews with ten winners.
· info-shooting.com
Miss Belgique 2027: the night in La Panne, as told by five winners
Behind the scenes of the pageant, including her stress rash and her forgotten crown.
Model profile: Julia on info-shooting. To propose a photo shoot or casting, write to the editorial team, who will pass it on.
Photographer: Eric ’t Kindt’s portfolio.
On info-lux.com (in French): her contestant profile (August 2026) and her post-pageant interview (September 2026).
Sources: portrait and interview by Noémie Martin for info-lux.com (August and September 2026); contestants’ feature and provincial-round results published by info-lux.com. Each photo is credited in its caption.
