Janel was born in Namibia, Africa, on 11 April 1985 and aspired to be a fashion designer from a very young age. With the fashion industry in Namibia being so small, she moved to SA just before she turned 14 in order to finish school at a recognised institute. She then studied fashion design for 4 years at NMMU (Nelson Mandela metropolitan University) in Port Elizabeth and obtained her National Diploma in Fashion in april 2008. She then moved to the UK to gain experience in fashion but unfortunately due to her visa only allowing her to work for 12 months, she could not secure a permanent fashion job and worked as a health worker until she returned to Namibia on 18 May 2010 when she started her own small couture business, Janelia clothing. It is based in Okahandja, 70km north of Windhoek and her aim is to supply Namibia, Zambia, Angola, Botswana and later SA with good quality, fashionable streetwear for all ages, shapes and sizes. Janel was chosen as one of 4 designers chosen to participate in the first Namibian Fashion week on 5 March 2011. She have 2 more fashion shows coming up in Namibia, one in September 2011 and one in December 2011.