Maria Chiguvari
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE Hallelujah Challenge became more than a prayer gathering for Zimbabwean beauty queen Yollanda Chimbarami.
She says the Christian movement helped her strengthen her faith as she prepared to compete at Miss International 2025 in Japan.
Chimbarami, who made history by finishing first runner-up at the prestigious global pageant, has opened up about how 21 days of fasting and prayer became part of her journey to the international stage.
As contestants prepare for the 64th Miss International pageant scheduled for November in Tokyo, Japan, the reigning Miss International Africa 2025 is reflecting on a journey she believes demonstrated the power of faith, perseverance and believing in a dream before it becomes reality.
During last year’s preparations, Chimbarami participated in the Hallelujah Challenge, a Christian prayer movement founded by Nigerian gospel minister Nathaniel Bassey.
One of the sessions featured a “Dress Like Your Miracle” exercise, in which participants were encouraged to dress in a way that symbolised what they were praying for.
For Chimbarami, the choice was deeply personal.
She wore her Miss International sash, using it as a symbol of the achievement she hoped to realise.
“Last October, I fasted and prayed for 21 days for Miss International and honestly, it wasn’t an easy journey.
“There were moments of uncertainty, moments when my faith was tested, but through it all, I kept believing and pushing forward,” she said.
Despite the doubts she encountered, Chimbarami continued to declare that she would return from Japan with a crown.
“Every single day, I declared that I was not leaving Japan without a crown and just like that, God did what only He could do,” she said.
Her eventual success saw her claim two distinctions: Miss International Africa 2025 and first runner-up at Miss International, finishing ahead of contestants from across the world.
The result marked Zimbabwe’s highest-ever placement at the competition, which attracted 82 contestants.
Colombia’s Catalina Duque won the crown, succeeding Vietnam’s Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy.
Chimbarami’s experience has since become a testimony she hopes will encourage others who are pursuing ambitions that appear difficult to achieve.
She said her prayers extended beyond the pageant itself, including hopes of travelling to destinations she had long wished to visit.
During the Hallelujah Challenge, she recalled holding her passport and praying over the places she wanted to explore.
Looking back on the past 12 months, she said she had travelled more than at any other time in her life, describing the opportunities that followed the competition as a reminder of the prayers she had made.
“The places I prayed about, the doors that opened, and the opportunities I have experienced are a constant reminder that God can do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ever ask or imagine,” she said.
Her connection to the prayer movement remains strong. Chimbarami said she recently experienced another emotional moment during the latest Hallelujah Challenge, when participants again took part in the “Dress Like Your Miracle” session.
This time, she was reflecting on how far she had travelled since wearing her sash as a symbol of a dream she was still pursuing. She is looking forward to sharing her testimony during a future edition of the challenge, using her experience to inspire others to remain steadfast in their faith.
“To anyone believing God for something right now, please don’t give up. Keep praying. Keep showing up.
“Keep declaring His promises, even when you cannot see how it will happen.
“Your faith doesn’t have to feel big; even faith as small as a mustard seed, can move mountains.”
As Zimbabwe prepares to send Ruvimbo Tafadzwa Njomboro to this year’s Miss International pageant, Chimbarami’s achievement remains a significant milestone for the country’s pageant industry.
For the former contestant, however, the story goes beyond the sash, the stage and the international recognition.
It is also about the personal convictions that sustained her through uncertainty and the determination to keep pursuing her ambitions.
“My story is proof that the prayers you whisper today can become the testimony you share tomorrow. Keep believing.
Your miracle is worth the wait,” she said.
