Malawi’s representative at the 2026 Miss World competition Ireen Navicha has moved a step closer to the Top 40 at the 75th Anniversary Miss World competition in Vietnam after making the top 24 finalists in the Beauty With a Purpose challenge.
The Miss Malawi First Princess is among the top six contestants from Africa and will now compete against finalists from other continental groups for an automatic place in the Top 40 of the main pageant.
The Beauty With a Purpose winners will secure the continental group’s available automatic spot in the Top 40, meaning this will give Navicha another opportunity to progress in the global pageant if she performs well.
Navicha’s selection comes after failing to make the final stages of some of the other fast-track challenges as well as categories held as part of the competition.
These challenges included Head to Head, Top Model, Top Chef, Sports and Talent challenge.
Her latest achievement, however, gives Malawi renewed hope as the competition enters its decisive stages.
Miss Malawi Organisation public relations officer Stephen Mdala said the selection is a positive development for Malawi and shows that Navicha still has a chance to progress into the Top 40 of the competition.
“The selection in the Top 24 means that she stands a chance to go into the Top 40 through the category of Beauty With a Purpose. It is no mean achievement in this competition,” he said.
Mdala said that at the competition, Navicha presented her Beauty With a Purpose project titled ‘When a Mother is a Child’.
“The project focuses on addressing challenges faced by young mothers as well as bringing them back to school and is among the initiatives that have earned her a place among the 24 finalists,” he said.
Through her When a Mother Is a Child project under the Greynavies Foundation, Navicha is supporting teenage mothers to return to school and pursue their dreams while raising their children.
The initiative has so far helped 432 girls to return to school by providing support such as school fees, learning materials and accommodation.
In an earlier interview, Navicha said that through the initiative, she engages girls from various villages across the country, encouraging them to remain committed to learning.
“There are girls who left school due to early marriages and teenage pregnancies and through this initiative we listen to their stories, offer them encouragement to go back to school,” she said.
Navicha said the campaign was on-going and she hopes to reach out to various communities to inspire and support more girls in the country.
The 75th Anniversary Miss World competition is now entering its final stages, with contestants having already taken part in several fast-track challenges and activities.
The remaining days will be crucial for contestants seeking to secure places in the Top 40 and advance through the different stages of the competition.
The competition is expected to culminate in Nha Trang, Vietnam, on September 5 where the finalists will compete for the Miss World crown.
