Controversy has erupted in Malawi after the country sent the daughter of a Cabinet minister to the Miss World pageant instead of the reigning Miss Malawi.
Thandi Chisi, who won the Miss Malawi contest and was crowned in Lilongwe on December 13, was expected to represent the country at Miss World.
However, organisers selected first runner-up Ireen Navicha, the daughter of Malawi’s Cabinet Minister Mary Navicha, to represent the country at the international pageant in Vietnam.
The decision sparked backlash, with questions raised over transparency and fairness.
Organisers initially said Chisi was dropped because she was above the Miss World age limit. However, the explanation came under scrutiny after reports noted that Chisi would still have been 27 during the pageant, within the stated age range of 17 to 27.
The Miss Malawi Organisation later apologised, with its CEO Benedette Mweso reportedly taking “full responsibility for causing the age eligibility confusion.”
The pageant’s principal sponsor, Goshen City, gave a different explanation, saying the decision was part of a new approach to creating opportunities for all finalists and cited Navicha’s international experience.