On December 13 2025, Malawi crowned a new beauty queen Thandie Chisi who now wears the crown as Miss Malawi. The new queen sat down for an exclusive interview with our arts editor EDITH GONDWE. Details:
Q: Can you introduce yourself and share a little background on your academic journey?
A: My name is Thandie Chisi. I am 26 years old. I am a creative leader, youth and women empowerment advocate. I am the founder and executive director of Sustainable Fashion and Women Empowerment (SFWE) Initiative. I am also a public service fellow and proudly Miss Malawi 2025.
My academic journey has been dynamic as I grew up in different places. I attended Chichiri and Wisdom Centre for primary school, before being selected to secondary school. I earned nine points, which earned me admission to the University of Malawi, where I completed a bachelor of social science degree, majoring in sociology with a minor in economics.
My academic background has strongly shaped my work in community development, policy advocacy, and economic empowerment. As it allows me to understand social systems while also appreciating the economic realities faced by young people, women and communities.
Q: Now that everything is in motion with your new office as Miss Malawi, what are some of the projects you aim to fulfil?
A: During my reign, I plan to build on the work I was already doing while also expanding its reach nationally.
My key focus areas include youth empowerment, with special attention to adolescent girls and young women. This will involve initiatives around access to education, skills development, economic empowerment and leadership development to nurture the next generation of capable and confident women leaders.
I will also focus on the creative industries, particularly fashion and modelling. Here, I intend to introduce capacity-building programmes that emphasize professionalism, ethical standards, branding and value creation. The creative sector holds immense potential for job creation and national development and I would like to see it better structured and respected.
Beyond these, people can expect community engagements, workshops, collaborations and national events that connect advocacy with action.
Q: As someone passionate about giving back to society, what projects were you involved in prior to winning the crown?
A: Before winning the crown, I was already involved in community work through my organisation Sustainable Fashion and Women Empowerment.
One of the initiatives I worked on was the Shift Campaign with Save the Children, where I collaborated with youth groups across Malawi to identify community challenges and co-create solutions through advocacy campaigns.
I also run Empower Her Now, an informal education and skills development programme that supports young women who have dropped out of school as well as those still in school, helping them build confidence, acquire practical skills and stay on track academically.
Additionally, I have worked on environmental advocacy projects, including research and dialogue around sand mining as well as initiatives focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, creativity and fashion as a tool for social change. These experiences laid a strong foundation for my role as Miss Malawi.
Q: You also have the support of two other princesses. Do you intend to work with them, and how?
A: Absolutely. I strongly believe in collaboration. There is a saying that “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” I want to go far. I intend to involve the princesses in various projects, drawing from their unique skills, expertise and passions. Our visions align in many areas and by working together, we can amplify impact, reach more communities and present a united front in advocacy and service.
Q: Malawi is still developing its modelling and beauty industry. Which areas would you want to improve to compete internationally?
A: One of the key areas I would like to improve is branding and value addition within the modelling and beauty industry. For us to compete internationally, models must go beyond appearance. They need to be professional, ethical, well-branded, and value-driven. This includes understanding contracts, maintaining professionalism, building strong personal brands and using platforms such as social media to create influence and economic value. Through my experience in this competition, I gained skills and exposure that I wish more Malawian models could access. I, therefore, plan to introduce capacity-building sessions to equip models with these skills, so that in the near future, Malawi can confidently export competitive models to the international stage.
Q: So far, how has life changed for you as a beauty queen?
A: Life has definitely changed, in both positive and challenging ways. There is increased visibility, responsibility and expectation. My platform has grown, my voice now reaches more people and opportunities for collaboration have expanded significantly. With that also comes pressure and scrutiny, which requires resilience and discipline. What this journey has taught me most is that the experience is just as important as the destination. Throughout the competition and beyond, I have grown immensely—personally and professionally. I am more resilient, more confident and more skilled than I was before.
Ultimately, this role has strengthened my sense of purpose and I see it not as a title, but as a responsibility to serve, lead and create meaningful impact.
