Online Reporter
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE day many Zimbabweans had been waiting for finally arrived on Saturday as seven beauty queens were crowned to represent the country at major international pageants.
Emerging as the biggest winners of the night were 26-year-old Brunette Makanyiso from Harare, who was crowned Miss World Zimbabwe 2026, and 34-year-old Roseanna Hall from Shurugwi, who walked away with the coveted Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2026 title.
Virginia Nyambe was crowned Miss Intercontinental Zimbabwe 2026, Jemima Mandemwa won the Top Model of the World Zimbabwe 2026 title, Nicole Nyawera became Miss Supranational Zimbabwe 2026, Malaika Mushandu secured the Miss Cosmo Zimbabwe 2026 crown, while Ruvimbo Njomboro was named Miss International Zimbabwe 2026.
As part of their prizes, Hall and Makanyiso are expected to receive Mercedes-Benz vehicles, cash prizes and other rewards. The remaining winners are set to receive Honda Fit vehicles along with sponsor packages.
Outgoing Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025 Lyshanda Moyas also enjoyed a memorable farewell after receiving an endorsement deal from a Chinese company, which surprised her with a twin-cab vehicle on stage.
However, despite the excitement and glamour, the pageant was not without controversy and organisational challenges that became difficult for audiences to ignore.
One of the first signs of trouble emerged from the hosting team. South African model and former Miss Universe
Zozibini Tunzi and veteran broadcaster Tich Mataz appeared to work through much of the event without a teleprompter, forcing them to improvise several moments during the live show.
The lack of clear scripting became noticeable after the swimwear segment when Mataz addressed the audience.
“Men, how are you feeling?” he asked.
Before people could respond properly, he quickly followed up with: “Did you take your medication or pills?”
The comment drew mixed reactions from viewers, with some describing it as unnecessary and inappropriate for the occasion. A more structured script and proper stage direction could likely have avoided such awkward moments.
Another major disruption came during the announcement of the Top 10 finalists.
Guests inside the venue and viewers watching on YouTube were left confused after the announcement process suddenly stopped midway.
Tunzi had already announced Roseanna Hall and Brunette Makanyiso among the finalists before appearing to whisper something to Mataz after Makanyiso’s name was called. Mataz immediately left the stage for consultations.
Tunzi then proceeded to announce Virginia Nyambe as the third finalist before pausing and appearing to wait for further instruction from backstage.
A short while later, Mataz returned to the stage and informed the audience that the judges needed more time.
“They say the competition is so tight, they want to sort out some more figures. Alright ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be right back. It’s so contentious,” he said before escorting Tunzi off stage.
The interruption quickly triggered speculation among viewers, with many questioning whether the wrong results sheet had been handed to the hosts or whether judges had failed to conclude deliberations in time.
When the hosts eventually returned, they restarted the process from the beginning, reannouncing the first three finalists before completing the Top 10 list with Kudzaishe Mwamuka, Mona-Lisa Dube, Jemima Mandemwa, Malaika Mushandu, Nicole Nyawera, Sindiso Ndlovu and Ruvimbo Njomboro.
Sources close to the production later indicated that the confusion arose after the presenters were mistakenly given a judges’ draft sheet instead of the official final list, although the names themselves reportedly remained unchanged.
Even so, the incident cast a shadow over one of the competition’s most important moments and raised questions about the event’s preparedness.
The challenges continued during the crowning segments.
With seven national queens being crowned during the same ceremony, transitions between outgoing queens and newly crowned winners often appeared disorganised. Traditionally, outgoing queens are given a proper farewell walk before handing over their crowns, but several moments during the night felt rushed and poorly coordinated.
Some newly crowned queens appeared uncertain about where to stand, when to walk and when to pose for photographs as organisers and stage managers tried to direct proceedings in real time.
The disjointed staging affected what should have been some of the evening’s most emotional and memorable highlights.
Perhaps the most talked-about moment of the pageant came shortly after Roseanna Hall was crowned Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2026.
Former Norton legislator Temba Mliswa suddenly entered the stage and began showering Hall with US$100 notes in celebration of her victory. Mliswa, who has roots in Shurugwi — Hall’s hometown — was reportedly overwhelmed with excitement following the announcement of her win.
However, what may have been intended as a celebratory gesture quickly became controversial.
At major international beauty pageants, crowning moments are usually carefully choreographed, with confetti, lighting effects and photography designed to keep all attention on the winner. In this case, Mliswa’s unexpected appearance shifted focus away from Hall and disrupted photographers and television crews trying to capture the defining images of her victory.
Instead of discussions centring entirely on Hall’s achievement, attention quickly moved towards the on-stage spectacle.
Hall’s victory itself also generated debate.
Last year, she served as one of the judges for Miss Universe Zimbabwe. This year, she returned as a contestant and went on to win the title, leading some observers to question whether her previous involvement with the competition gave her an advantage.
Veteran model Bren Mupa was among those who publicly commented on the issue.
Although she acknowledged that Hall had not broken any pageant rules, she said the situation naturally raised concerns.
“She was one of the judges, together with Connie Ferguson and others at last year’s pageant. She helped choose the winner, Lyshanda Moyas, who went on to represent Zimbabwe internationally. Now she has returned as a contestant.
“I realised how unfair this contest might have seemed to the other contestants. How do they compete against someone who had already sat on the judging panel? Someone who had previously been marking the score sheets for the competition?”
However, Miss Universe regulations allow former judges to participate as contestants, provided they are not judging the same competition in which they are competing.
Despite the controversies, the pageant still delivered entertainment and excitement for many fans.
Performances by Atenda Chinx, Jah Prayzah and Nigerian music star Fireboy DML kept the audience engaged throughout the night, with Fireboy’s appearance generating particularly strong excitement.
As is always the case in beauty pageants, many supporters had their own favourites.
Some believed former Miss Zimbabwe winner Malaika Mushandu deserved the top crown after making her return to pageantry, while others strongly backed Gwanda beauty Nomaqhikiza Mokoni, whom they felt fitted the image of a Miss Universe titleholder.
Still, pageant judging often goes beyond public popularity, and judging criteria do not always match audience expectations.
Overall, the event remained a significant moment for Zimbabwean pageantry and attracted a full house — a positive sign that local interest in beauty competitions continues to grow. The presence of Miss Universe Botswana 2026 Dabilo Debbie Moses and her first princess Wangu Modise also highlighted the event’s growing regional profile.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were Malawi’s Second Lady Madam Tadala Hannah Chihana, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Monica Mutsvangwa, Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Tatenda Mavetera, and Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Emily Jesaya.
Meanwhile, newly crowned Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2026 Roseanna Hall says she is now focused on preparing to represent Zimbabwe at the global Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico in November.
Hall, who is a full-time model, content creator and businesswoman based in South Africa, said she hopes to use her reign to uplift young girls and showcase Zimbabwe positively on the international stage.
“I want to showcase to the world the very best of Zimbabwe. That’s my mantra. For the next year, I’ll be partnering with many people to ensure that young girls in this country feel loved, supported and empowered,” Hall said.
