Online Reporter
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
What could have easily gone down as one of the best-organised beauty pageants of the year was instead marred by a series of avoidable mishaps that left many questioning the event’s production and judging processes.
While 34-year-old Shurugwi beauty Roseanna Hall was ultimately crowned Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2026 in the early hours of Sunday, the road to her crowning was overshadowed by confusion on stage, questionable production decisions and an unexpected appearance by former Norton legislator Temba Mliswa.
The first major blemish came during the announcement of the Top 10 finalists. Viewers following the livestream on YouTube and audience members at the venue watched in disbelief as the judges appeared to recall the finalists’ list midway through the announcement. South African model and former Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi, was seen signalling to co-master of ceremonies Tich Mataz shortly after Roseanna Hall and Brunette Makanyiso had been announced.
After announcing Makanyiso, Tunzi whispered something to Tich Mataz, prompting him to immediately leave the stage for consultations. Tunzi proceeded to announce Virginia Nyambe as the third finalist before pausing, seemingly awaiting feedback from backstage.
Moments later, Mataz returned and informed the audience that the judges needed more time.
“They say the competition is so tight, they wanna sort out some more figures, alright. Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be right back, it’s so contentious,” he said before ushering Tunzi off stage.
The unexpected interruption left both the audience and online viewers puzzled. Questions quickly arose over whether the MCs had been handed an incorrect list or whether the judges had not finalised their deliberations before the announcement process began.
When the pair returned, they restarted the process, re-announcing 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.
The confusion cast an unnecessary shadow over a crucial stage of the competition and sparked debate among viewers about the credibility and preparedness of the judging process.
The challenges did not end there. With seven national titleholders being crowned on the same stage – Miss Universe Zimbabwe, Miss World Zimbabwe, Miss Cosmo Zimbabwe, Miss Supranational Zimbabwe, Miss International Zimbabwe, Miss Intercontinental Zimbabwe and Top Model of the World Zimbabwe – the production struggled to manage the transitions between outgoing queens and incoming winners.
Ideally, the outgoing queens should have been given their final walk and moment of recognition before crowns were handed over. Instead, announcements and crowning sequences often overlapped, creating visible confusion on stage. Several newly crowned queens appeared uncertain about when to walk, pose or take their place on stage as organisers and MCs attempted to coordinate proceedings in real time.
The disjointed flow diluted what should have been some of the most memorable moments of the evening and denied several winners the spotlight that traditionally accompanies such achievements.
Then came perhaps the most talked-about moment of the night. Moments after Hall was crowned Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2026, Mliswa accompanied her onto the stage and began showering her with US$100 notes in a gesture he appeared to intend as celebration. Instead, the stunt drew attention away from the newly crowned queen and quickly became one of the dominant talking points from the event.
In major international pageants, a winner’s crowning moment is typically enhanced by stage effects such as confetti, pyrotechnics and carefully choreographed celebrations designed to keep the focus squarely on the queen. On this occasion, however, Mliswa’s presence on stage diverted attention from Hall and complicated matters for photographers and television cameras trying to capture the defining images of her victory.
Rather than celebrating the queen’s crowning moment, much of the attention shifted to the spectacle unfolding around her. The incident raised questions about whether organisers had sanctioned the move or were simply caught off guard.
Despite the mishaps, the pageant successfully crowned its representatives for several international competitions. Virginia Nyambe was named Miss Intercontinental Zimbabwe 2026, Jemima Mandemwa became Top Model of the World Zimbabwe 2026, Nicole Nyawera was crowned Miss Supranational Zimbabwe 2026, Malaika Mushandu won Miss Cosmo Zimbabwe 2026, Ruvimbo Njomboro was crowned Miss International Zimbabwe 2026, Brunette Makanyiso secured the Miss World Zimbabwe 2026 title, while Hall walked away with the coveted Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2026 crown.
Hall and Makanyiso are set to receive Mercedes-Benz vehicles and prize monies among other significant prizes. The remaining titleholders are expected to receive Honda Fit vehicles and various sponsor packages.
Outgoing Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025 Lyshanda Moyas also enjoyed a memorable farewell, securing an endorsement deal from a Chinese company that presented her with a twin-cab vehicle live on stage.
Londile Moyo