By Jimmy Chazama:
Miss Malawi First Princess Ireen Navicha Monday fell short in the Head to Head Challenge and missed out on fast track Miss World Top 40 place in Vietnam.
The winners are South Africa, Nigeria, Eritrea, Kenya and Zambia from Africa.
The others are Germany, Philippines, Vietnam, Scotland, Korea, Cook Islands, USA, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Wales and Spain among others.
The Head to Head Challenge offered the contestants a chance to share their inspiring speeches, meaningful projects and powerful personal journeys with the world.
- Advertisement -
The results entail that Navicha must now rely on other fast track categories and public votes to keep her hopes alive in the global contest.
During her terrain, Navicha shared about teenage pregnancies and early marriages in Malawi.
She presented her ‘When a Mother Is a Child’ project under the GreyNavies Foundation, which helps teenage mothers return to school.
According to her, the initiative has already provided scholarships, built a hostel and set up a nursery to care for children while their mothers attend classes.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Meanwhile, one of the pageant organisers, Lorraine Kljajic, who also spearheads Miss Culture Malawi, has urged Malawians to continue supporting Navicha.
She said contestants from Malawi and Sierra Leone gave their all and showed authenticity, confidence and grace.
“I am proud of you, Ireen and Maryam. You used the Miss World stage to highlight real challenges and made your voices heard. You may not have won the Head to Head Challenge, but you won many hearts.
And to South Africa, congratulations,” Kljajic said.
The Head to Head Challenge is one of the key routes into the Top 40, alongside Beauty with a Purpose, Multimedia, Top Model, Sports and People’s Choice.
Winners from each continental group secure automatic places, while others wait for judges’ selections and public backing.
The grand finale of the Miss World will be held on September 5 2026.
