Online Reporter
Tafadzwa Zimoyo
Zimpapers Entertainment Editor
SHE may not have brought the blue crown home, but Brunette Makanyiso has given Zimbabwe plenty to celebrate.
The Chitungwiza-born shone at the 73rd Miss World competition in Vietnam after storming into the Top 12, in a field of 111 contestants, and putting Zimbabwe firmly under the global spotlight.
And what a journey it has been!
From her arrival in Vietnam to the challenges, interviews, fashion rounds and the pressure of the grand finale, Brunette carried the Zimbabwean flag with confidence.
But her biggest weapon was arguably her ‘Beauty With A Purpose project’.
Brunette emerged as the standout force in the prestigious social-impact challenge, finishing as the continent’s leading representative in the project.That achievement was crucial in her road to the Top 12 and showed that her campaign was about much more than beauty, gowns and glamour.
Then came the moment every finalist fears — the Top 12 question-and-answer round.
Under the bright lights in Nha Trang, Brunette was asked what advice she would give to someone wanting to start their own ‘Beauty With a Purpose’ project.
Her response was simple but powerful.
She spoke about starting with very little, taking that first step and refusing to wait for perfect conditions before making a difference.
“I started with nothing and I took a step forward to achieve my dreams. And I’m here standing on the stage,” she said.
Her message was clear: purpose does not have to begin with millions of dollars or a massive organisation.
Sometimes, it starts with one person deciding to act.
“It takes a little amount of work to create change as much as we can,” she said, urging people to take that first step.
It was a response that reflected the very spirit of the ‘Beauty With a Purpose’ movement — using visibility to create meaningful change.
With that Brunette’s journey ended in the Top 12.
She had already made Zimbabwe proud by pushing through one of the world’s most competitive beauty platforms. Her campaign also saw her make an impact in the Top Model challenge and, most importantly, become one of Africa’s strongest performers in ‘Beauty With a Purpose’.
For Zimbabwean pageant fans, this was a campaign to remember.
From Chitungwiza to Nha Trang, Brunette proved she could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the world’s finest beauty queens.
However, when the dust settled, it was Joheirry Mola of the Dominican Republic who walked away with the coveted Miss World 2026 crown.
Mola made history by becoming only the second woman from the Dominican Republic to win the Miss World title, following the country’s first victory in 1982.
Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés finished as first runner-up, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty was second runner-up. But while the Dominican Republic celebrated its new queen, Zimbabwe had its own reason to party. And that is a result that should not be whispered.
And the Miss World machine is already moving on.
The next edition — Miss World 2027 — is scheduled to take place in Tanzania in September next year, bringing the world’s beauty queens to East Africa.
For Zimbabwe, the question now is simple:
Who will take Brunette’s baton?
The crown may have gone to the Dominican Republic, but Brunette left Vietnam with something equally valuable — a Top 12 finish, continental recognition and a story Zimbabwe can proudly tell.
