Jescar Mponda Crowned Miss Malawi

Jescar Mponda, 23, is the new Miss Malawi after defeating 11 other finalists in the beauty queen finalist's event held on Saturday at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.

Malawi: Jescar Mponda, 23, is the new Miss Malawi after defeating 11 other finalists in the beauty queen finalist's event held on Saturday at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.

According to Alpha Arts, who organised the event, First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera crowned the queen because former Malawi queen Tiwonge Munthali could not attend due to circumstances beyond her control.

Munthali, Malawi's beauty queen since 2018, had been scheduled to crown the new queen alongside the First Lady.

Madam Chakwera, the guest of honour, pledged support through her 'Through Her Shaping Her Future Foundation,' which she says will collaborate with the Miss Malawi winner to be a role model for rural girls in the country.

"I am particularly impressed that all of the girls have completed some level of tertiary education, while others are pursuing the same," said the First Lady, who donated K1 million to the beauty pageant.

The first and second princesses were Hlezipe Chikhwaza and Roberta Kanjelo.

Roberta Kanjelo was crowned Miss Photogenic as a consolation prize. Hilda Macheso was crowned Miss Popularity, and Vanessa Makungwa has crowned Miss Personality.

Tourism, Culture and Wildlife Minister Michael Usi and Foreign Affairs Minister Nancy Tembo attended the event.