Malawi’s reigning Miss Malawi, Thandi Chisi, has been replaced by first runner-up Ireen Navicha as the country’s representative at the Miss World pageant.
Navicha is the daughter of Malawi’s Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Mary Navicha.
The decision has sparked controversy online, with members of the public questioning the fairness and transparency of the selection process.
Critics are calling on the Miss Malawi organisers to explain why the official winner was replaced and to provide clarity on the criteria used to select the country’s representative.
The Miss Malawi Organisation has denied that political influence played a role in the decision, while the controversy continues to generate debate over the management of the national pageant.
