Up close with Miss Malawi 2011

As someone growing in Botswana where that country’s tourism sector has of late given birth to the fashion and entertainment industries, modelling had been lingering in Susan Mtegha’s mind since she was young.

Born on 20 October 1987 to Don and Justina Mtegha of Bwengu in Mzimba, Susan’s parents had gone to the ‘Tswanaland for greener pastures in 1992.

Susan is one of the family’s only three daughters in a family of eight.

And though Susan now possesses an advanced diploma in Business Information Systems from Gaborone’s Limkokwing University, the new Miss Malawi beauty queen still harbours plans to build a fashion and designing empire. But not without first pursing her education further:

“I want to have a Master’s [degree] or a PhD in the same IT related field,” says the queen, who surfs the internet as a hobby.

“I am just fascinated by the world of computers and all these latest ICT gadgets, but I love designing and I plan to run a fashion line in the near future.”

The queen, who displayed some optimism on the growth of the local fashion and design market, was quick to attribute the Miss Top Model and Miss Talent accolades she won during last Friday’s gala in Lilongwe to the way her parents raised her.

She says they never tried to distract her from dancing- a thing she started since she was 10 but they kept encouraging her with her education.

“But most importantly, my parents taught me to be disciplined in everything I do. I believe it’s discipline that propelled me to winning the crown,” says the 24 year old who is in a committed relationship.

The new beauty declares there are no plans to relax, saying her position is more of a calling to her.

The Roman Catholic faithful says she plans to raise funds for enough charity in anticipation of the rainy season “when a lot of natural disasters hit hard.

“There is no resting for me when there is so much suffering around me especially in women and children,” says Mtegha.