Online Reporter
Zimpapers Entertainment Hub
FOR former Miss Universe Zimbabwe Lyshanda Moyas, the crown has never been the destination.
It has always been the microphone.
And now, as she takes on a new role as Co-Director of Miss Afrikana Zimbabwe, Moyas believes the emerging pageant can become something far bigger than another beauty competition — a powerful global platform through which Africans tell their own stories, on their own terms.
“Pageantry has always represented far more than beauty, crowns and stages,” Moyas says.
“It is a powerful platform through which young women can tell their stories, represent their communities and challenge the world to see Africa through the eyes of Africans themselves.”
That philosophy sits at the heart of her vision for Miss Afrikana, whose inaugural event is scheduled for next year.
For Moyas, the significance of the platform lies in who controls the narrative.
She believes African women should not have to wait for outsiders to define their identities, cultures, struggles and aspirations.
“Our mission is not to tell stories that have been diluted to make them more comfortable for others,” she says. “It is to tell them with authenticity, dignity and pride.”
It is a declaration that places storytelling at the centre of pageantry.
And Moyas speaks from experience.
Having served as Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025, she understands that a national crown comes with responsibilities that extend well beyond appearances, public events and the glamour of the pageant stage.
Her reign, she says, taught her about leadership, advocacy, media, partnerships and the responsibility of representing an entire nation.
Now she wants to channel those lessons into building the next generation of African pageantry.
“I want to use that experience to help shape the Zimbabwe we want — a Zimbabwe that confidently tells its own story, celebrates its people and contributes meaningfully to the broader African narrative,” she says.
The emergence of Miss Afrikana comes at a time when African pageantry is increasingly seeking to move beyond conventional beauty narratives and embrace identity, culture, advocacy and leadership.
Moyas’ appointment of directors across different continents has further strengthened the vision.
To her, it signals that Miss Afrikana is not being built simply as a national or continental contest, but as a global network capable of carrying African voices across borders.
“It demonstrates that Miss Afrikana is building something truly global — a movement where our stories can travel across borders while remaining rooted in the people, cultures and experiences from which they originate,” she says.
But before Zimbabwe sends a representative onto the global stage, Moyas believes the country must first get the foundation right.
That means identifying a woman who understands that a crown is not merely an accessory, but a responsibility.
“We have the responsibility to identify, prepare and empower the right woman to represent Zimbabwe — a woman who understands that carrying a national title is not simply about wearing a crown, but about carrying the hopes, aspirations and identity of a nation,” she says.
Moyas will undertake that task alongside two women who understand the demands of the crown — Bruk Brooke Jackson, Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2023, and Sakhile Dube, Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2024.
For the trio, the partnership represents more than three former queens occupying leadership positions.
It is a continuation of their journey.
It is sisterhood transformed into institution-building.
“Our collaboration represents something bigger than three former queens coming together,” Moyas says.
“It represents sisterhood, continuity and a shared belief that we can build something meaningful for the women who will come after us.”
That emphasis on continuity is perhaps one of the most striking aspects of Moyas’ vision.
She sees former queens not as people whose relevance ends when another woman inherits the crown, but as custodians of knowledge who can help prepare those who follow.
The team now has time to listen, identify the right candidate, nurture her talents, and prepare her for the demands of international representation.
And Moyas knows exactly what she wants that candidate to understand.
“She will be carrying a story,” she says.
“A story of a nation. A story of a continent. A story of a generation.”
Moyas said the competition is ultimately about representation — giving African women the confidence and platform to speak for themselves while presenting the continent to the world without apology.
She believes the Zimbabwean representative must therefore possess more than beauty.
“I believe Miss Afrikana can become a powerful platform for celebrating African excellence while creating meaningful opportunities for women to lead, advocate and influence conversations beyond the pageant stage,” she says.
“This is about our narrative. This is about our identity. This is about telling our stories — from our perspective, with our voices and with the authenticity they deserve.”
