New Miss Malawi crowned amid controversies

It was supposed to be a beautiful night when the new Miss Malawi was crowned at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, but instead boos and shouts of discontent were the order of the day as 23-year old Jescar Mponda was declared winner.

The new beauty queen was unanimously declared winner by a panel of judges which included two former Miss Malawi holders Rachael Landson and Elizabeth Pulu, Sarah Kidy and Linda Poya.

Said Mponda: “I feel overwhelmed because I never expected it. I think it is just God’s grace and I have so much to do because Miss Malawi has not been there for the past four years.”

However, some sections of the audience as well as online followers were of the view that her response to the final question, which was supposed to be the deciding factor, was not convincing.

Judges had asked her what Malawian youths face as their biggest problems to which she responded that it was social media.

Hlezipe Jade Chikhwaza was named first princess while Roberta Kanjelo was second princess.

The other blemish on the night was the failure to have the previous crown holder Tionge Munthali to hand over the crown to Mponda.

The role was performed by First Lady Monica Chakwera after Munthali reportedly abandoned the event midway.

In a breif interview on Sunday, Munthali said: “Let us talk tomorrow. Right now I am so enraged. I need time to recollect myself.”

But lead organiser Tina Kendricks said the arrangement was all part of the State House protocol since the First Lady was assigned to perform the task from the onset.

In total, 12 contestants battled it out on the runway during the finals. Others included Hilda Macheso, Grace Mazinga, Umiwangu Mlanjira, Lucy Kampango, Natasha Tembo, Stacy Ngulube, Immaculate Gulula, Vanessa Makungwa and Susan Moyo.

In her speech, Chakwera could not hide her excitement.

“I have never been at a beauty contest before, apart from reading about it in the newspaper. So, today is my first time I feel I have been missing out,” she said.

The First Lady said the position of Miss Malawi is a better platform to address some of the nation’s challenges that the youth face.

On his part, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife Michael Usi said  Miss Malawi has to reflect the aspirations of the country, the country’s long-term development plans.

As the night rolled on, it was clear that the judges were having a tough time to decide on the winners.

The first and second question times drew the battle line for the contestants who were reduced from the top 12 to top five and then the final three.

Still, after the second question time, one could tell from the judge’s desk that they were debating.

After a long wait, Mponda was announced winner. She walked away with a laptop, K1 million, one week trip to Dubai and a cosmetic hamper. The first princess walked away with K800 000 while the second princess walked away with K500 000.

Other winners were Hilda Macheso who won the popularity contest, Kanjero was also crowned Miss Photogenic while Makungwa was crowned Miss Personality.

One of the patrons Teddy Kamwendo said he enjoyed the programme, but called out the organisers to do better in terms of staging.