Online Reporter
Melissa Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
ALL she had were three O-Levels. Yet somehow, that did not stop her from standing tall on an international stage, representing Zimbabwe at Miss World in 2006, nor from becoming one of the country’s most respected and enduring beauty queens.
This story, marked by resilience, grace, and divine timing, is that of Lorraine Maphala-Phiri — the woman who turned what appeared to be failure into a lifelong testimony.
On Thursday, in a heartfelt Facebook Live conversation, the former Miss Zimbabwe opened up about her journey — one that began with broken dreams but ended in triumph. Raised in the high density suburb of Nketa 6 in Bulawayo, renowned for producing top models like Bongani Dhlakama, Lorraine attended Baines Infant and Junior School before moving on to St Columba’s High School, where she faced academic challenges and managed to obtain only three O-Levels.
Now 41 and a proud mother of three, Lorraine, based in South Africa, recently celebrated a remarkable milestone: graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Regenesys Business School — an achievement she proudly describes as “proof of God’s perfect timing”.
“When I was in Form Three, something inside me kept saying, ‘I’m not ordinary’. But I didn’t know how to bring that out because I was constantly failing at school. My father always told me that without education, I wouldn’t be successful. I remember writing in my auto book that I wanted to represent the country at Miss World. My friends laughed, thinking I was crazy,” she recalled.
At that moment, she did not realise destiny was already quietly working in her favour.
“I didn’t want to disappoint my parents. What I didn’t want was to be a statistic — someone who failed at school and got pregnant. My parents were strict, and I feared becoming a disappointment. But life happened; I failed my O-Levels. I asked to try again and enrolled at Foundation College, but I failed again.”
Her mother, a matron at Bulawayo Polytechnic at the time, offered a suggestion that would unknowingly lead Lorraine to her true calling.
“She said since I liked cooking, I should go to hotel school. So I enrolled and started waitressing, washing plates, serving customers, and smiling. It put me off because I hated washing plates at home, and there I was, doing exactly that! Deep down, I felt this wasn’t my purpose. I saw myself as a powerful person.”
But her low self-esteem haunted her. The constant academic failures made her question her worth.
“My self-esteem was at zero. But the fire in me kept burning. One day, I watched Miss Malaika on TV, and when Brita Maselethulini won, I realised she hadn’t done much — she just walked on stage, smiled, and answered a question. I thought, ‘I can do that’. I had no idea there was pre-judging!”
Lorraine sought guidance from her neighbour, model Portia Ncube, who introduced her to the world of pageantry.
“Portia told me about auditions for Miss Bulawayo. I was still at Poly then. I told my mum, and she said, ‘What are you going to do there with your funny walk?’” Lorraine said, laughing.
“I kept asking until she agreed. I then attended the auditions in my Poly uniform, dusty from walking. I was 17. Sarah Mpofu, the modelling instructor, asked me to walk and then suggested I register when I turned 18. I begged her to let me try, and she agreed.”
She made the Top 10 that year, igniting a spark that never went out.
“That’s when I realised there was hope for me. Portia became 2nd princess. I tried again at Miss Teen Queen and became 2nd princess again — still not ‘learned’, but determined. I studied hard on my own, following the news to improve my general knowledge. Then I entered Miss Summer Strides and won.”
At this point, her confidence began to grow. But when she entered Miss Bulawayo again, she did not win, as her low self-esteem had returned during the dreaded Q&A segment.
“I answered correctly, but my voice shook. I cried backstage. I thought I had let myself down. Little did I know, scouts from Miss Malaika were watching. One of them encouraged me to audition. I went for it and won Miss Malaika Bulawayo, with Portia again as 2nd princess. We then competed nationally, but I didn’t win. I was contestant number 14 — the people’s favourite. But I had messed up at pre-judging because of self-doubt.”
At this point, her brand began to take shape, as people never forgot contestant number 14 — a number that had become synonymous with her breakthrough moment. Embracing its significance, Lorraine went on to name her fashion line Maphala Fashion 14.
Determined, Lorraine entered Miss Bulawayo once more in 2005, and this time, she placed as 2nd princess.
“People don’t know that I was never crowned Miss Bulawayo. That year, Nomakhosazana Ncube (from A Tribe Called Zimbabwe) was the queen. That year, something unique happened: pageant organisers said they’d take the top three to Miss Zimbabwe, so I was included.”
What happened next changed her life forever.
“The night before the pageant, I had what seemed like an epileptic attack. I remember waking up with everyone praying around me, my mum on the phone begging me to come home. I refused. I had come too far to give up.”
In an extraordinary act of kindness, organisers dimmed the stage lights during her walk to prevent another seizure.
“That was God. They didn’t have to do that. I walked that stage just to finish what I started, not expecting to win. I felt a calmness I had never felt before. I answered confidently, without fear or low self-esteem. I was at peace.”
Then came the moment of truth.
“As they announced the Top 10, then Top 5, I was happy just to have come that far. When they called the 1st princess, it was Nomakhosazana. I was so proud of her. Then Tich Mataz, the host, said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Zimbabwe 2005, all the way from the City of Kings…’ and called my name. I froze. I zoned out until someone nudged me to walk forward.
“I couldn’t believe it. This uneducated girl from Nketa had become Miss Zimbabwe. My dream had come true. I had written in my auto book that I wanted to go to Miss World, and here I was. I sometimes wish I had written that I wanted to win Miss World!”
Lorraine went on to represent Zimbabwe at Miss World the following year. But even as she basked in international recognition, a lingering void remained — her unfinished education.
“After Miss World, I felt exposed. I was now in rooms with doctors, architects, and lawyers. I felt inferior. I wanted to make my parents proud and prove to myself that I could do it. My dad used to tell me I wasn’t dull. So I enrolled in a marketing course and passed. That gave me confidence.”
That first certificate became her gateway to Regenesys Business School in South Africa.
“They told me my diploma was equivalent to A-Level and advised me to start at certificate level in Business Administration. I aced it, then moved on to the degree, and here I am today — a proud graduate.”
Lorraine said she has learnt that one must always understand their “why” in life.
“For me, pursuing a degree had a clear purpose: to structure my business properly and ensure no one took advantage of me. And I did it for my children, so they could be inspired from home, not by the world. The world is harsh on girls. I want them to be equipped.”
As she held back tears, she reflected on God’s timing.
“I now understand why I didn’t graduate with my peers. God had other plans. The low self-esteem, the failures, the delays — all of it shaped me into who I am. Had I graduated earlier, I wouldn’t have appreciated it this deeply. My story is one of grace. If I did it, what can stop you?”
From being teary in between the conversation, she smiled as she concluded her story — a story that visibly touched many who tuned in to her live chat, with some showing their admiration by gifting her stars.
“I’ll keep sharing my story until every little and big girl knows she can chase her dreams — academic or otherwise. Don’t disqualify yourself. God’s plan is always perfect.”
