Twenty-three-year-old Lilongwe-based model Weshah Mwelamoyo was on Friday night crowned Miss Culture Malawi 2024 while Alinafe Kanjana emerged winner of Mrs. Culture Malawi 2024.
Mwelamoyo shrugged off competition from 10 other contestants who battled it out on the runaway at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe.
Hazel Mayuni emerged first princess while Vanessa Njobvu was crowned the second princess.
Angela Mtonthola was crowned first runner-up in the Mrs Culture contest which attracted two participants.
After strutting on the runway in five categories
such as sports, profession, traditional and fashion wear, judges went to work and decided the new titled holders who will reign for the next coming year.
Before the final results special awards were given to contestants who included Miss photogenic, Miss Personality, Community Champion and Best Catwalk.
In an interview, Mwelamoyo expressed her excitement for the win, saying that she wants to use the platform to voice out issues concerning mental health and work with various organisations towards addressing social issues.
“I’m very grateful for this. This is more than just having a crown to me, with this opportunity and the platform I want to be able to do more charity work and give more because one of the objectives of the pageant is to take care of one another,” she said.
In a separate interview, Lush Africa chief executive officer and founder of Miss Culture Malawi, Lorraine Kljajic said the choice of the judges was valid and satisfying and that she believes the two will have a good reign.
“Our judges have never let us down; we had a good Miss Culture Malawi queen last year and I’m sure this one is also a perfect queen. I look forward to working with her and Mrs. Culture so that we advance the mission of the pageant,” she said.
Kljajic said having organised the pageant four years now, they aim to drive the actual impact in terms of empowerment, charity initiatives and promote tourism through showcasing the cultural aspects of the country.
“We have been consistent we are growing as a brand, we are aiming at having more strategic partners raising their prizes. As we will celebrate five years next year we want to be bigger and better,” she said.
Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Owen Chomanika, who was the guest of honour, stressed on the importance of such pageants in promoting cultural identity.
Among other prizes, the newly crowned queens walked away with one million kwacha cash prize, a scholarship and cultural exchange trip to South Africa, one week get away to Likoma Island and unlimited cosmetic service from Applause.
The red carpet event was spiced with performances by Temwah and Emmie Deebo.
