17 to compete for Miss True African crown

Miss True African Queen, formerly known as Miss Matofotofo, on Saturday identified eight contestants in Lilongwe to represent the Central Region during the national event scheduled for Sunbird Capital next month.

Stella Nkhonya, Odilia Phiri, Sheena Champompha, Shira Kachule, Trintus Kachitsa, Isabel Mandambwe Kilembe, Linda Chidzankufa and Maureen Domoya make up the list.

The eight will compete with five contestants from Mzuzu and four from Blantyre. Of the 17, seven—two each from Blantyre and Mzuzu and three from Lilongwe have different physical disabilities.

Speaking in an interview, founder and director of the event Lwazi Mbowa said she is impressed with the response the pageant has received in all the three regions of the country.

“I am happy that people are becoming very interested to participate in the pageant. We had many people at all venues only that many failed to meet the conditions. I was pessimistic that the physically challenged would get the courage to participate in the pageant,” she said.

She added that the objective of the pageant is to build confidence in women who feel sidelined and these include the big-bodied and the physically challenged.

Mbowa said the pageant celebrates African traditions and cultures they believe in that there is beauty in every woman.

The final list has Tapiwa  Msiska, Tione Mfunde, Dalitso Baluwa, Julliet Mvula and Joan Phiri from the Northern Region and Rebecca Yapuwa, Benadetta, Pilirani and Fatima Chana from the Southern Region.

Meanwhile, organisers have said all is set for the national crowning event at the Capital Hotel’s Marquee on December 6.

However, Mbowa said they will release details of the prizes, activities to grace the show and who will be the guest of honour at the event shortly.