Miss Universe Zimbabwe shortlist snub irks Miss Zimbabwe, Courtney Jongwe

What was expected to be a defining moment for aspiring Miss Universe Zimbabwe contestants ended in both celebration and disappointment, as the pageant unveiled its final shortlist of contestants for this year’s competition on Tuesday.

While several hopefuls secured their places in the final cohort, others were left questioning why they had been excluded from the title-deciding stage.
Among the most notable omissions was Miss World Zimbabwe 2025 Courtney Jongwe, whose exclusion, reportedly linked to her still holding the Miss Zimbabwe title, has sparked debate on social media.

Having been crowned Miss Earth Zimbabwe in 2023 and Miss World Zimbabwe in November 2024, Jongwe is regarded as one of the country’s most recognisable pageant figures. Following the announcement of her participation in this year’s Miss Universe Zimbabwe auditions, many pageant followers expected her to progress to the finals.

However, when the final shortlist was released, Jongwe’s name was missing, despite several other prominent contestants making the cut.

Addressing the matter through Instagram and Facebook posts, Jongwe said she had sought clarity from all relevant parties before entering the competition, particularly regarding concerns linked to her previous reigns and the pageant merger.
“Thank you all so much for your love and support. It means a lot more than words can explain. I thought to come on here and be honest because, if anything, you deserve to know the truth,” she wrote.

“I asked all relevant parties if my participation would be a problem, especially as a result of the merger. I received the go-ahead to apply. After applying, Miss Universe Zimbabwe accepted my application and invited me for auditions. They welcomed my registration and even interviewed me a few days ago.
“So when Miss Universe Zimbabwe’s now-deleted comment said ‘she pulled out’, I was genuinely as shocked as you were because I never communicated that I was withdrawing,” said Jongwe.

She added that the matter was no longer about placement in the competition, but about honesty, transparency and fairness.
“I cannot claim to empower young women when I can’t stand up for myself. It’s not really about placement at this point. It’s about honesty, transparency and justice,” she said.
Jongwe also noted that she was not the only queen to compete before officially handing over her crown, adding that some finalists were also yet to complete their reigns.