Online Reporter
Gift Moyo [email protected]
THE dethronement of Malaika Mushandu as Miss Cosmo Zimbabwe 2026 has sparked disappointment and outrage within sections of the pageantry community, with former Miss Intercontinental Zimbabwe 2025 Rumbidzai Muropa publicly questioning the decision and calling for greater transparency from the Miss Universe Zimbabwe organisation.
Miss Cosmo Zimbabwe organisers recently announced that the model had been stripped of her title in a decision they said was reached following due consideration of matters relating to misconduct and ineligibility, including failure to satisfy the applicable standards, requirements and obligations prescribed by the Organisation and the international Miss Cosmo Organisation. The statement did not give finer details as to why the model was dethroned.
This decision has since triggered debate on social media and among pageant followers.
Muropa, who has experience in the pageantry industry following her reign as Miss Intercontinental Zimbabwe 2025, said the decision to dethrone Mushandu was disappointing and suggested that the explanation provided to the public did not tell the full story.
Reacting to the organisation’s statement issued on August 22, Muropa took to social media to express her support for Mushandu while calling for honesty and professionalism in the handling of the matter.
“This is disappointing. Dethroning is a serious decision and deserves honesty. The information shared does not reflect the full truth, and it appears that personal agendas are influencing what should be a professional business decision. I stand for integrity and transparency, and we stand with Malaika Mushandu,” she said.
Her comments have added to the growing public dismay surrounding Mushandu’s removal, with supporters questioning whether the decision and the circumstances leading to it were adequately explained.
Muropa also drew comparisons with developments on the international pageantry scene, citing the case of Myanmar representative Thae Su Nyein, who was welcomed by the Miss Cosmo International organisation following her controversial fallout at the Miss Grand International 2024 finale.
“To Miss Cosmo International, if you can extend an olive branch to Myanmar and take in their representative, we ask why the same consideration is not being extended to our representative Malaika Mushandu. We ask equal treatment for all delegates,” said Muropa.
The comparison has further fuelled calls from Mushandu’s supporters for the Miss Cosmo Zimbabwe organisation to reconsider its decision or provide a full account of the circumstances surrounding the dethronement.
