Miss Malawi now ambassador for National Lotteries
The reigning Miss Malawi, Faith Chibale, has been appointed by the National Lotteries Group (NLG) as their Corporate Social Responsibility Ambassador.
Chibale’s appointment was revealed on Monday at the group’s offices in Blantyre during the Miss Malawi pre-pageant party.
NLG Chief Executive Officer Allen Cheng disclosed: “We are not only sponsoring the 2011 pageant, we are also offering an opportunity to Faith Chibale to be our Corporate Social Responsibility Ambassador.”
Cheng further said that the winner of this year’s Miss Malawi will join her predecessor in office, saying, “They will work together in carrying various charity works on our behalf.”
Role model
NLG are among the top sponsors of the 2011 Miss Malawi beauty pageant and have since spent over K3.3 million towards the organisation of the competition. Among others, NLG is sponsoring a specially designed and expensive crown to be donned by the winning contestant.
As pointed out by Cheng, the support offered to the office of Miss Malawi is aimed at encouraging more young women to participate in the pageant thereby contributing to the development of the country which will allow them to live their dreams.
“The person who is chosen Miss Malawi is the role model for young women and girls in the country and by making Miss Malawi an ambassador, many young women will be encouraged to aspire to the office of Miss Malawi,” observed the NLG chief.
In reaction to her appointment, Chibale praised NLG for the task they have given her.
“How I wish they were there in the beginning,” said Chibale who will be leaving the Miss Malawi office on December 23.
Sad term
On the other hand, addressing the guests at the party, the 2010 beauty queen could not hide her discontent in what has happened during her term as Miss Malawi.
“I’m leaving this office a very sad person because what I have done during my tenure is just a quarter of what I promised to achieve,” she expressed her frustration.
“I fully attribute my dismay performance to lack of resources and support from all Malawians especially the corporate world. I tried to knock on the doors of almost each and every company hunting for sponsorship, but to no avail. I even failed to attend Miss World due to financial constraints,” she said.
Chibale observed that in other countries, beauty queens and models receive five-star treatment whereas in Malawi, the story is opposite as Miss Malawi has been reduced to a mere “street beggar girl”.
Lottery pledges support
And in an interview with Nyasa Times, Cheng said the NLG was willing to go further with their support towards the office of Miss Malawi if the organisers perform well.
“I might even come in with full sponsorship annually,” said Cheng, who was however quick to point out that other commercial companies needed to step in and support such events.
Cheng, whose NLG has been in operation in Malawi for about half a year, said he was surprised to see that the office of Miss Malawi was struggling to run its activities due to lack of support.
Said he: “We need to be fair with the government. Miss Malawi is similar to other beauty pageants such as Miss Hong Kong, Miss World, Miss Earth, and these contests are sponsored by the corporate world.”
Sanity
In a separate interview, Mabel Banda of Artistic Agency told Nyasa Times that her organisation will take all measures possible not to disappoint the sponsor to maintain and strengthen their cordial relationship.
“We’re a transparent organisation and we make sure that the girls that are crowned Miss Malawi are those who young girls in Malawi can look up to.
“Slowly we’re bringing back the sanity in the pageant and with such support, Miss Malawi will wear a whole new face,” said Banda, stating that this year’s contestants and well educated girls.
There are twenty-four contestants in this year’s Miss Malawi, twelve of which are from the Southern Region, eight from the Centre and four from the North.
