After a screening exercise which begun with 168 applications, a final shortlist comprising 15 models for the 2022 Miss Culture pageant has been released.

The 15 are set to compete for the crown during an event slated for July 2 at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre. Prior to the grand finale, the models will undergo a boot camp experience in which they will be trained and groomed for the finale, organisers of the pageant Lush Africa have said.

Some of the contestants: Hazel Lwanda (in white) and Memory Sanjira

Lush Africa executive director Lorraine Kljajic said: “After a very long process we have the final list. They first applied via our website and we trimmed the list to 50. We then had a public online voting where we selected 25. Finally, the board had interviews with them and came up with the final 15.”

The names that have made it on the final list include Yvonne Chanache, Memory Sanjira, Hazel Lwanda, Eunice Senzani, El Shadai Masauli, Florence Mkandawire, Susan Moyo, Tenjiwe Loya, Rookiah Jussab, Mildred Mungoshi, Christina Mavuto, Alinafe Chunga, Madalo Malunga, Callista Kachulu and Rush Masamba.

Kljajic said the winner and run up for this year’s pageant has been earmarked to represent Malawi at the Miss Culture Global and Miss University Africa.

Last year’s winner Malumbo Mtonga represented Malawi at the Miss Culture Global in South Africa where she won the best catwalk contest and second princess Murimu Kachitsa participated in the Miss Premium in Nigeria.

The organisers have indicated that during this year’s contest they will bring three international judges, one from South Africa, another from Ethiopia and one from Botswana. The winner of this year’s contest will get a fully paid scholarship at Exploits University worth K3.2 million.

All the top three winners will get a one year supply of cosmetics from Bella Cosmetics worth K200 000 each, brushes and eyelashes from Mayi Cosmetics and shoes worth K100 000 from Nkhwayila.

Kljajic said despite some outstanding efforts by the current Miss Culture office holders, it was not easy for them to make the desirable impact because of the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the prevalent economic hardships.

Last year’s contest was won by Mtonga and Mwasalipa Mfune emerged as the first princess with Kachitsa coming out as the second princess.

The post 15 shortlisted for Miss Culture 2022  appeared first on The Nation Online.