Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices student, Irene Navicha, on Saturday was crowned the 2023 Miss Culture Malawi during the grand finale held in Lilongwe.
The 18-year old, daughter to Thyolo Thava legislator Mary Navicha—who, among others, went away with a fully paid scholarship from Exploits University, smartphone from Liqui Flo and one year cosmetics supply from Glam n Glory— outclassed nine other contestants to claim the crown.
“I really wanted it but I never saw it coming. I would like to thank my family for giving me all the support,” Navicha, who has taken over the crown from the 2022 Miss Culture Malawi Memory Sanjira, said.
She said, now that she is Miss Culture Malawi 2023, she plans to start a campaign that includes empowering young women as well as supporting girls.
“I want to use this crown as a vehicle for change and, so, I am looking at promoting education and culture,” she said.
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Her first princess is Divine Dhaka while Penelope Mbewe is the second princess.
The Miss Culture Malawi grand finale run together with the inaugural Mrs Culture Malawi, which went to Hanisha Salgado.
Hanisha shrugged off competition from four other contestants to make history and become the first holder of Mrs Culture Malawi.
“It is an honour to be crowned the first Mrs Culture Malawi and I look forward to working with Lush Africa as well as other organisations to promote women empowerment and independence through entrepreneurship and other various activities,” she said.
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Hanisha, who among others, went away with a land from Innobuild, smartphone from Liqui Flo and one year cosmetics supply from Glam n Glory, said she believes that women contribute positively to society.
“I participated because it has been a dream of mine since childhood and believe that it is never too late to achieve your dreams and, so, I appreciate the opportunity,” she said.
Her first and second princesses are Roselyn Mbite and Winnie Phiri, respectively.
Chief Executive Officer for Lush Africa and Miss Culture Global and Miss Culture Malawi, Lorraine Kljajic, said they were happy with the turnout during the red carpet event which was taking place in the capital city for the first time, having been held in Blantyre during past editions.
“We brought a new concept in Malawi of the Mrs Culture category and we believe it was welcomed very well. Congratulations to the winners and we are thankful to sponsors, who made things possible,” Kljajic said.
She has since said they are still looking for partners as the journey for Miss Culture Malawi and her princesses as well as Mrs Culture Malawi and her princesses has just begun.
“It is a one-year long journey and we would like to work with all those interested in driving the agenda,” Kljajic said.
