Meet Northern Region’s Miss Malawi aspirants
The Miss Malawi 2016/17 pageant, a project implemented by leading media houses Nation Publications Limited (NPL) and Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), enters the second round with regional finals starting in Mzuzu on Saturday. Our staff reporter JOHN CHIRWA profiles Northern Region finalists.
Miwasy Nyirenda
The 23-year-old bachelor of education student at Mzuzu University (Mzuni) is the first born in a family of three girls. She was the second princess in the 2013 Miss Mzuni Beauty Pageant and first princess in the 2014 Miss O’Seasons Beauty Pageant.
In 2015, Nyirenda was one of the models in the Mzuzu Fashion Week. Such an experience is what moves her to contest for the crown to ensure girls stay in school longer and help limit childbirth. “It has always been my wish to serve others in the country and I am ready for that with or without the crown,” she says.
Tadala Uta
The journalism student at Lilongwe Technical College joins the 2016/17 Miss Malawi contest with one reason: to enjoy herself. “It’s a matter of having fun and learn a few things about beauty pageant. It’s not all about competition,” says the 19-year-old model. Uta aspires to become a highly-qualified journalist and wants to use the Miss Malawi platform to prove her worth as a girl of dignity and commitment. “When I promise something, I make sure I fulfil it and perform to the best of my ability,” she says.
Esther Chiviya
Esther Chiviya, 25, is a student at Mzuzu Technical College. She was the first princess in the Brains and Beauty and the Miss New Version beauty pageants in 2013 and 2016, respectively. Esther is a talented piano player and also a good at rapper. She wants to use the Miss Malawi crown to engage government in addressing early marriages, which she says is the root cause of overpopulation. “Most girls are forced to marry at an early age. As a result, they end up having many children because they have a long child bearing period,” she says.
Vanessa Mtegha
The 26-year-old Vanessa Mtegha is an entrepreneur and works part-time with Population Services International (PSI). She graduated from Skyway Business College Mzuzu Campus in 2008. Vanessa describes herself as a go-getter. She says contesting for the Miss Malawi crown has been her ambition from a tender age. “Winning the crown will simply be a realisation of my childhood dream,” she says.
Yewo Gondwe
Yewo, 19, has just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social science from the University of Livingstonia. The 2015 Miss O’Seasons likes music and dancing. She aims at inspiring others to get empowered in their pursuit of survival. She plans to use this year’s Miss Malawi theme to effect change in society and empower the girl child to realise her dreams.
Sally Nyirenda
Sally Khethiwe Nyirenda is a 22
-year-old textile and designing student at Phwezi Technical College. She believes overpopulation is the root cause of the numerous challenges the country is facing. She plans to help fight against early marriages once she bags the crown.
Note: Some models did not provide their entry photos n
