After facing criticism due to her fashion outfits at the ongoing Miss World pageant, Malawi’s representative Ireen Navicha on Wednesday night redeemed herself courtesy of her Malawi-linked dress.
Navicha caught the eye of the audience during the Dances of the World event in Vietnam, donning a local design by H Clothing bearing symbols of a crown and the rising sun on the chest, Lake Malawi in the middle of the skirt and Mulanje Mountain on the sides.
Her impressive showing was a relief after torrid outings in the preliminary stages of the competition. Navicha earned applause from Malawians who followed the event online. Even after the event, she was mobbed by people who wanted a picture opportunity with her until she was whisked away by security staff.
The brains behind the dress, Hilda Gadaga, who owns H Clothing, said she was impressed with the reception which she described as full of love, pride and filled with positivity on Malawi’s natural heritage.
“I wanted to create something that carries Malawi with it, our beauty, strength, water and future. The reaction overwhelmed me in the best way. It reminded me why we worked day and night. My energy was not wasted,” she said.
The designer said the crown symbolises the flame and the sun represents the Malawian flag.
Lake Malawi represents the crystal clear waters that give life and unite communities with Mulanje Mountain symbolising the strength, foundation and resilience of Malawians.
Gadaga said the dress was hand painted: “It was an honour to have my art at the Miss World for the first time. I was able to create what I can call wearable art.”
Miss Malawi Organisation public relations officer Stephen Mdala attributed Navicha’s initial unimpressive dress showings to schedule changes which led to delayed arrival of her costumes for the pageant, forcing her to improvise in some stages.
He said: “We had plans for the outfits to be worn at each engagement. The problem now came about because of the schedule changes that were made. So, our colleagues who were carrying her costumes delayed in arriving and she had to improvise since the outfits were not yet there.
“We noted the criticism and we appreciate that Malawians want to see her excel and once we do something that is not in tandem with such ideals, they are reacting to show us that maybe we are not doing enough.”
Mdala acknowledged the support Malawians are providing to the representative and they remain optimistic of her chances to make it into the Top 40, especially with her impressive showing on Wednesday and her qualification into the Top African 6.
