Miss Curvy Malawi auditions suspended
Excite Media, organisers of the Miss Curvy Malawi beauty pageant, have suspended subsequent auditions for the competition which were scheduled to take place this weekend in Blantyre and on 9th February in Mzuzu.
This follows the poor turnout during the inaugural auditions held on Saturday at Bridge View Hotel in Lilongwe, where only four models showed up to audition of which only one qualified.
The auditions were planned to identify women that would represent the Central, Southern and Northern Malawi at the national finals to be held on 13 April in the capital city.
Excite Media communications manager, Diana Liabuba told Nyasa Times that following the low turn up, “we are now scouting and we have put on hold auditions in Blantyre and Lilongwe.”
Said Liabuba: “We are visiting some institutions of higher learning in the three cities where we will be scouting, this was already a backup plan if those that turned up for auditions could not quality.”
According to Liabuba, the modelling firm is looking for twelve models in total to compete in the finals, four representing each region.
“Should most keep falling short of the requirements, then we could probably have ten, but we are praying this will not be the case.
“Am just hoping for the better, with the knowledge that we have a beautiful curvy woman out there who will represent Malawi at the Miss Curvy Africa event in summer,” she added.
Miss Curvy Malawi is a new pageant for ‘curvy’ women and seeks to celebrate Malawian beauty through appreciating a uniquely built figure.
The Excite Media spokeswoman however believes the poor response could be attributed to the pageant being relatively new, observing that “maybe not many women were comfortable with taking such a bold step on a pageant that allows them express themselves so much”.
The poor show contradicts earlier assertions by Excite Media in their previous interview with Nyasa Times that whilst the competition was not targeting models, there had been significant interest from professional models throughout the country, clamouring to get involved.
The first of its kind in Malawi, the pageant is open to women aged between 18 and 28. They must also have a minimum of Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE), a
42 inch hip size, flat tummy and should not be less than 1.7 metres tall.
When asked if Malawians were not yet ready for such events, Liabuba said: “They are ready, they just need to be shaken up a little.”
“Pageants have sort of slowed down [in the country] with few sponsors coming up and models think ‘what good will it do me to have a crown, office and prize money and nothing?’
“With Miss Curvy you also get a contract to be an ambassador for a South African-based jewellery company owned by a Malawian,” she revealed.
According to Excite Media, the ultimate winners of Miss Curvy Malawi will also receive a package of prizes including personal coaching and support in body image and modelling presentation.
A prospective modelling contract and portfolio, cash gifts, hair and beauty treatments and of course instant celebrity status with the title of Miss Curvy Malawi, are also in the offing.
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