Miss Malawi Organisation has toughened conditions for the Miss Malawi pageant.
The organisers of the pageant argue that the idea is to have credible and disciplined contestants.
Among the requirements, participants should have a minimum qualification of a Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE), fluency in English and Chichewa, have no criminal record, be single, no children, be aged between 18 and 29 and have a minimum height of 1.65 metres.
In addition, they should be willing to engage in charity and public speaking engagements, have a cultural representation and commitment as well as be willing to promote Malawian culture and values. They are further required to pay a non-refundable fee of K20 000.
The current set-up is a deviation from what has been the norm during recent pageants where organisers even allowed mothers to participate.
In an interview yesterday, Miss Malawi Organisation contestant manager Calista Kachulu said the requirements will ensure that contestants are matured, presentable, independent and capable of being leaders.
“If we find ourselves in a spot where contestants are not aligning with our values, then we will extend the deadline until we find the right ones. We do not want negative stories of our models everywhere as they tarnish the Miss Malawi brand,” she said.
Kachulu said they have partnered with different organisations and Ministry of Tourism to ensure that the Miss Malawi office works hand in hand with them.
Speaking in a separate interview, art and fashion commentator Sam Chiwaka said the stipulated requirements may have both merits and demerits.
He has also questioned the insistence on the use of English since it is not a measure of one’s competence.
“There are cases where you have a beautiful woman who cannot speak English. That is even common outside the country. Organisers should consider looking at the origins of the pageant where national participants were drawn from regional contests,” said Chiwaka.
He also said it is important for the organisers to have a structured roadmap about the responsibilities and duties of office holders beyond being crowned. He said it would help if they worked in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism.
“Two months after being crowned as Miss Malawi, the winners are left on their own because there is no clear structure as far as their roles are concerned. Miss Malawi needs to be the face of Malawi,” said Chiwaka.
The Miss Malawi is set for December 6 with the winner taking home K6 million.
The pageant returns after a three-year absence.
