Ms Matofotofo Blantyre finals Feb 24

The search for the next Miss True African Queen continues with Southern Region finals to take place later this month.

According to organisers of big-is-beautiful pageant (formerly Miss Matofotofo), registration for aspiring big mamas from Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre, and surrounding districts starts Saturday ahead of the finale on February 24 at Mount Soche.

“After the Blantyre show, the wind blows towards Mzuzu in the North. We expect 15 fluffy women to participate in the Blantyre show. From these, judges will choose Miss True African Queen Blantyre, first and second princesses,” said organising committee chairperson Wisdom Chimgwede.

The top three biggies along with Miss Smile and Miss Personality will contest against their matches from Mzuzu and Lilongwe in a national decider slated for April.

The Lilongwe five were selected last year and will be led by reigning queen Constance Kachoka, a replacement of Florence Banda who was dethroned due to an alleged sexual affair with a married man.

Chimgwede said auditions for Mzuzu and neighbouring districts will take place in March.

Founded by Lwazi Mbowa in December 2007, the big mama beauty contest was launched in Zimbabwe to give confidence to the mostly diffident bubbly women in Africa.

Last year, Mbowa decentralised the show, commissioning the first national queen Florence Banda (just a namesake of the dethroned) to take charge of the local franchise.

The catwalk is open to those who wear size 40 and above, with no restrictions on age, weight, height and marital status.