Malawian model wins Austrian contest
A Malawian national, Nelson Matanga, who was contesting in the Mr Face of Africa Austria (FOAA) 2014, over the weekend won the title.
He came top after outshining 14 other contenders from seven African countries.
FOAA organisers, Jay Jayo Events and Geyc Events, as well as Matanga confirmed the news.
The competition, which was in two categories, Mr and Miss FOAA 2014, brought together Africans living in the European nation to showcase the African heritage and talents.
The battle for the crown was among 15 male contestants representing Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and the triumphant Malawi.
“Jay Jayo Events and Geyc Events will like to thank all who made it to the Face of Africa Austria 2014. We would also like to congratulate our winners Mavis and Nelson…,” the organisers wrote on their Facebook page Face of Africa Austria.
And speaking from Salzburg, Austria, the 29-year-old Matanga expressed his excitement over winning the title, which he said did not come easy.
“It wasn’t easy, but I went and told myself to go there and represent my country to the fullest,” said Matanga in an online interview.
“I managed to wow the crowd and whenever I went on stage they called me ‘the warrior like Mandela.”
Despite Southern Africa scooping the first spot through Malawi, the competition was dominated by West Africa as Ghana and Cameroon got the first and second runners-up slots, respectively.
In the ladies category, Ghana scooped the first and second positions, with Mavis Kwarko winning the title. The second runner-up went to Nigeria.
As the winner of the male category, the Malawian representative received a cash prize which he did not want to disclose. He was also awarded magazine and movie contracts in Belgium and Ghana.
Matanga is currently studying tourism at the University of Applied Sciences Salzburg. He said winning the title would help his quest to market Malawi as a tourist destination.
“I will be promoting Malawi to the fullest. I have already met up with some multimedia guys and will be making promotional videos for Malawi and I am calling the project Invest in Malawi.
“I will be making a trip to Malawi with people who enjoy volunteer tourism during the Lake of Stars,” said Matanga, whose ambition is to become a tourism ambassador for Malawi one day.
