Online Reporter
Gift Moyo, Sunday Life Reporter
SINCE being crowned Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2026 last month, Roseanna Hall (34) has become one of the most talked-about figures in local pageantry, with many eager to hear the realities behind competing for the country’s most coveted crown.
In an interview, Hall reflected on her lifelong passion for pageantry, the challenges she faced returning to pageantry in her 30s and the purpose she hopes to champion during her reign.
Hall, who hails from Shurugwi, said her love for modelling and beauty contests began at a young age.
“This is a dream I’ve had since I was a little girl. I always envisioned myself as Miss Zimbabwe. Modelling has been part of my life from a young age and representing Zimbabwe at 17 in M-Net Face of Africa only strengthened my passion. Pageantry and modelling have always been central to my journey,” said Hall.
Although pageantry remained close to her heart, Hall’s path later took her into academia and the corporate world. She pursued a psychology degree before building a career with global beauty brand
L’Oréal in South Africa. Despite her professional success, the desire to compete never disappeared.
Speaking about her decision to return to pageantry after more than a decade, Hall admitted that fear and self-doubt almost prevented her from pursuing the dream again.
“It’s something I’d always wanted to do, but over time, fear, anxiety and self-doubt convinced me that my time had passed and that I was too old to compete against younger contestants. At 34, returning to pageantry was a decision I had to think through carefully.
“When I competed before, the rules were much stricter. Women who were married, had children or were above a certain age could not take part. Today, pageantry has become more accommodating and inclusive. It is no longer reserved for a select group of women, but embraces real women with families and life experiences.
“I learnt about these rule changes last year and began considering a return. Having been away from pageantry for more than a decade, I had started believing those insecurities myself. The new rules gave me reason to reflect and after a long conversation with myself, I decided to come back and compete,” said Hall.
The issue of age inevitably surfaced during the conversation, particularly given the youthful profile of many contestants who were in their 20s. However, Hall said age ultimately became a strength rather than a weakness.
“My age was definitely something that I wasn’t insecure about. I think it helped me in terms of maturity and knowing who I am. There was never a moment where I looked down on myself because I was surrounded by younger contestants.
“Everyone was beautiful and everyone had something amazing to bring to the table. There were a couple of moments where the age thing did play on me a little bit because of how people would perceive it,” she said.
The interview also provided insight into the often misunderstood Miss Universe Zimbabwe selection process.
According to Hall, the competition begins long before contestants step onto the main stage.
“Boot camp is essentially a week to prepare for the main show. Judging actually begins at boot camp.
People have this misconception that judging only happens on stage, but that is only the show part of the process. Behind all of that, there is a lot of judging that goes on.
“From boot camp, we’re already being evaluated. Judges look at how we interact with each other, how we work with each other, and how we perform at the various activities.
“Looking put together on stage is great, but being a queen is much more than that. It’s about how you engage with people on a day to day basis because a lot of the work of being a queen requires this skill,” said Hall.
She added that judges spend considerable time getting to know contestants away from the spotlight, assessing character, personality and leadership qualities in addition to physical presentation.
Hall also addressed one of the most debated aspects of her victory. Following her crowning, many questioned whether it was fair for her to compete after serving as a judge at the Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025 pageant.
Hall said her experience on the judging panel inspired her to revisit a dream she had convinced herself was no longer possible.
“I understand why people find it interesting and I respect the conversations that have come from it. But I was inspired to follow my dreams after being a judge last year, dreams I was convinced I was too old for. Seeing all those women step onto that stage really ignited something in me that forced me to overcome my fears and insecurities.
“Being a former judge didn’t guarantee me anything, I still had to earn my place through the same process as every other contestant. My focus now is on the responsibility that comes with this title and making Zimbabwe proud on the Miss Universe stage,” she said.
For her reign, she said her focus is on representing Zimbabwe to the best of her ability. She said she intends to use her platform to advocate for causes close to her heart, particularly mental wellness and economic empowerment for women.
She revealed that her initiative, Beyond Survival Sisterhood, seeks to improve the mental well-being and economic circumstances of young girls and women across Zimbabwe.
