After a year long break, Miss Heritage Malawi returns with its second edition at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre on April 5.
The pageant, which aims to celebrate Malawi’s cultural heritage and empower young women, was put on hold last year to allow its organiser, Maddie Mkuwu Soko, to mourn her father.
In an interview, Soko, who is also the organisation’s chief executive officer and national director, said the event will have more sustainable structures.
“We now have a full team that can handle everything in my absence. I am grateful for their support and this will ensure the continuation of the pageant,” she said.
According to Soko, this year’s edition has attracted improved sponsorship, which will ensure better experiences for contestants.
She added that key challenges from the previous edition such as lack of restaurant sponsorship have been addressed and finalists will enjoy a well-organised and fulfilling experience.
Soko said the selection process for contestants aligns with the pageant’s mental health awareness theme.
“Applicants submitted videos, pictures and educational backgrounds online. Ten finalists were selected out of 46 applicants. To protect contestants from online ridicule, we did not publicly announce those who didn’t make it,” she said.
The pageant will focus on rebranding as Vision Pageantry to shift focus beyond just beauty competitions to allow winners to participate in international women’s conferences and cultural exchange programmes.
In a separate interview, Miss Heritage Malawi Mwaiwathu Khupe said the title gave her a platform to empower young women and promote cultural heritage.
“From the moment I was announced as the winner, I knew I had assumed a big responsibility and that I had to deliver,” she said.
During her reign, Khupe said she hosted a mental health awareness webinar during the 16 Days of Activism, attended Mulhako wa Alhomwe and worked on projects to raise awareness about Malawi’s heritage sites.
She has also been involved in advocacy for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and has led initiatives to support the less privileged.
Khupe encouraged young women to participate in the pageant, describing it as a life-changing platform that allows them to network, engage with organisations and work on meaningful projects.
“It’s a good platform which gives one a chance to work with different organisations on some of the important issues happening in the country,” she said.
