ZIMBABWEAN model Courtney Jongwe departed for India on Monday this week to proudly represent the country at the prestigious 72nd Miss World International Competition.
The event, set to take place in Telangana, south-central India, will run from May 7 to 31, showcasing beauty, talent and cultural exchange on a global stage.
She joins 119 other title holders from all five continents.
Speaking before her departure from Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, the 23-year-old, who is currently pursuing a degree in Chemical and Processing Engineering at Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, shared her excitement with IndependentXtra.
“It is an incredible honour and deeply humbling to represent Zimbabwe on such a prestigious platform. I carry my nation’s spirit, stories, and hopes with immense pride,” Courtney said.
Courtney, who previously competed at Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam will champion her mental health initiative, The Sanctuary Project, as part of the Miss World “Beauty with a Purpose” campaign.
Her work focuses on expanding access to mental health services and creating safe spaces for open dialogue in Zimbabwe.
“My message to the world is that Zimbabwe is full of promise, and our voices, especially those of young women, deserve to be heard on global platforms,” she said.
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In a show of national pride and support, Kirsty Coventry, the former Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, and the president-elect of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), personally saw Courtney off at the airport.
Coventry’s presence underscored the national significance of Courtney’s participation and the broader impact of young Zimbabwean women stepping into global arenas.
Patience Lusengo, director of Miss World Zimbabwe, expressed immense confidence in Courtney saying she truly represents the essence of what it means to be Zimbabwean.
“She is strong, resilient and bright just like our nation. Her preparations have been intense and heartfelt, from advocacy presentations and gym routines to countless meetings and sponsorship calls. She is going with a mindset of excellence,” Lusengo said.
Courtney follows in the footsteps of iconic Zimbabwean women who have previously stood on the Miss World stage such as Sherley Nyanyiwa (semi-finalist at Miss World 1980), Linda Van Beek (2002), Lorraine Maphala (2006), Samantha Tshuma (2010) and Tendai Hunda (2014), among others.
“Knowing that I carry the hopes of a nation inspires me to walk with confidence and grace on the world stage,” she said. “Zimbabweans have been amazing, their encouragement fuels my drive to shine not for myself, but for all of us.”
Miss World contestants participate in Beach Fashion, Beauty with a Purpose, Multi-Media, Sports, Talent and Top Model, leading up to the final competition. The opening ceremony will be on May 10 at the Gachibowli indoor stadium. More than 12 locations will be part of the 25-day event.
On the last day, the festival will culminate in a grand finale to be hosted at Hitex Exhibition Centre in the capital of Hyderabad, where the reigning Miss World, Krystyna Pyszková, of the Czech Republic, will crown her successor.
