Online Reporter
Maria Chiguvari
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
ZIMBABWE’S Miss International journey has come full circle.
National pride is still high following Yollanda Chimbarami’s recent impressive showing on the international stage.
As her global campaign wraps up, focus now shifts back home, where the momentum is expected to inspire the next chapter in Zimbabwe’s pageantry landscape.
Yollanda is expected to touch down in Zimbabwe tomorrow, closing a chapter that began with more than 60 contestants competing for the Miss International crown.
Last week in Tokyo, Japan, Yollanda emerged as the first runner-up at Miss International 2025, a moment that instantly rewrote Zimbabwe’s pageant history.
Yollanda also earned the continental crown of Miss International Africa 2025.
As an ambassador for education, Yollanda said her recent visit to UNICEF was a poignant reminder of the importance of their work.
“It is painful to learn what so many children go through, experiences we may never fully understand because we have never walked in their shoes.
“Yet hearing their stories reignites something powerful inside me: a responsibility, a calling, a purpose.
“As an ambassador for education, I carry these moments with me.
“They push me to dream bigger for Help A Child Save A Nation, to grow from supporting 172 children to reaching one million.
“Imagine being able to restore hope, dignity, and opportunity to a child every single term?
“That is the future I am fighting for. And days like today remind me that this work is not just important, but it is necessary.”
The global title went to Catalina Duque of Colombia.
For the first time, Zimbabwe stands among the top two in a Big Four pageant.
Miss International is classified as one of the prestigious beauty competitions for women alongside Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss Earth.
Yollanda is a multi-talented artist and entrepreneur who has already made a mark in various fields.
As a model, she has walked the ramp for top designers such as David Tlale and Danielle Allen.
Her acting career includes roles in films like ‘‘Windfall,’’ ‘‘In Plain Sight,’’ ‘‘Finally Caught,’’ ‘‘Stump the Guesser,’’ and ‘‘The Day My Job Tried to Kill Me.’’
She has also lent her voice to Disney’s animated series ‘‘Supa Strikas.’’
Now that she is heading back home, many players will be expecting her to exchange notes with local players in local pageantry.
