Trouble brewing at Miss Blantyre

With the event in its infancy, the Miss Blantyre pageant is embroiled in turmoil after organisers threatened to sue one of the models for insinuating that a winner has already been pre-determined.

This follows reports that some models have pulled out of the race after they felt insecure with the organiser’s daughter Maggie Mendes parading in the race as they fear that the judges might be bias towards her.

Mendes is the daughter of the pageant’s executive director Samantha Crozier.

Reports reaching The Nation indicate that Crozier has threatened to sue one of the aspiring Miss Blantyre queens Madalitso Nthepa for allegedly spreading rumours that Red Rose Agency has already selected a winner.

According to reports, to avoid a lawsuit, Nthepa was told to apologise which she did.

The pageant’s public relations officer Kelvin Sulungwe confirmed that there were attempts to sue the model but the decision was rescinded after her apology.

He, however, brushed aside allegations that their agency has fired some models claiming that they were in the recruitment stage and no model has signed a contract.

“No one was fired, we are still in the recruitment process. We are finalising the contracts and they will be ready shortly,” said Sulungwe.

Sulungwe said the models that were involved in the gossip were not recruited as the agency saw that they were not fit to represent their agency.

“We want models that have a sound reputation, those that can represent the agency,”said Sulungwe.

Sulungwe defended the issue of Crozier’s daughter contesting in a beauty pageant in which her mother is the executive director saying their agency is trying to set an example to parents that parenting is all about supporting a child’s ambitions.

“For example in football there was a time when Young Chimodzi was coaching Silver Strikers when his son was among the players that did not stop him or his son on their careers,” said Sulungwe.

He further added that their agency is very professional and they have recruited judges who are impartial and professional.

Minutes before The Nation went to press, we received an update from Sulungwe that Mendes has withdrawn from the pageant.

Sulungwe said Mendes told the organisers that she has withdrawn fearing that even if she won people will not respect and recognise her hard work.

Sulungwe said that Mendes’s withdrawal is a setback as their organisation is working towards uplifting the dreams of young girls.

“We treat her as any other girl despite the fact that her mother is the executive director,” said Sulungwe.