Online Reporter
Tafadzwa Zimoyo
Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
BRUNETTE Makanyiso was among the beauty queens who went through the crucial closed-door interviews as the 75th Anniversary Edition of Miss World moved closer to its grand finale.
The interviews took place on Sunday at voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang, giving the judges an opportunity to look beyond the glamour, cameras and pageant spectacle and learn more about the women competing for one of the world’s most coveted crowns.
For Brunette, the experience was far from unfamiliar.
The Zimbabwean beauty had already gone through the demanding interview process during the Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2026 competition, where she emerged with the Miss World Zimbabwe title and earned the opportunity to represent the country at the global pageant in Vietnam.
Her experience on home soil gave her an understanding of what such an encounter demanded — confidence, composure, personality and the ability to clearly communicate her journey and purpose.
The closed-door sessions offered contestants a different kind of platform from the glamorous Miss World Festival activities.
Away from the stage and cameras, the national ambassadors had to rely on their personalities, stories, ambitions and causes as they engaged the judges.
For Brunette, it was another opportunity to demonstrate the qualities that had seen her secure the Miss World Zimbabwe crown earlier this year.
Her journey in Vietnam has already taken her through a series of activities and challenges as she competed alongside national representatives from around the world.
While she did not secure a place in the Head to Head Challenge or the Talent Challenge, she remained in contention for the Miss World crown and continued to represent Zimbabwe throughout the festival.
The closed-door interview became another important moment in her campaign.
The Miss World judging process has traditionally placed emphasis on more than physical beauty, with contestants expected to demonstrate purpose, confidence, communication skills, intelligence and an ability to use their platform to inspire others.
Brunette’s journey has given Zimbabweans plenty to follow, with supporters back home keeping a close eye on her progress as the competition unfolded in Vietnam.
Away from the interviews, Nha Trang had also been transformed in preparation for the spectacular Live Final.
The Miss World stage had been taking shape beside the sea at 2 April Square, creating a dramatic waterfront setting for the Saturday finale.
The impressive structure and large-scale production reflected the significance of the 75th Anniversary Edition, with thousands of people expected to gather for the much-anticipated celebration.
The sight of the stage rising beside the sea added another layer of excitement to an already electric atmosphere in Nha Trang.
For the contestants, it was a clear indication that their Miss World journey was rapidly approaching its climax.
The interviews had already taken place, the various challenges had unfolded and the contestants had experienced the culture, history and beauty of Vietnam.
Now, attention was firmly shifting towards the final night.
For Brunette, the journey represented a remarkable progression from the Miss Universe Zimbabwe stage, where she had successfully navigated the competition and secured the Miss World Zimbabwe title, to one of the biggest international beauty platforms.
Her previous interview experience was expected to have helped her approach the Miss World judges with greater confidence and composure. The significance of the moment was not lost on the Zimbabwean delegation, with the national representative carrying the hopes of supporters who had followed her journey from home.
As the Miss World Festival entered its final chapter, the 75th Anniversary celebration was shaping up to be more than a conventional beauty pageant.
It was a celebration of 75 years of Miss World’s “Beauty With a Purpose” philosophy, bringing together women from different countries and cultures under the banner of global unity and humanitarian purpose.
The spectacular seaside stage, meanwhile, has become a physical symbol of the approaching finale.
After days of activities, challenges and appearances, the contestants were finally nearing the moment when all eyes would turn to the crown.
Brunette has already made her mark simply by reaching this stage.
Nha Trang had become the centre of the Miss World universe — and Brunette is right in the middle of it.
