Miss Southern Africa Zambia was held on 21st of july at LIV club-Diamond of Lusaka where fifteen Zambian girls contested for the coveted crown of Miss Southern Africa Zambia.

Fifteen Zambian designers were pooled in to design three outfits for the three categories: National/traditional wear, Safari wear and Evening wear. The Best designer of the night received a one million kwacha prize.

As the pageant is about promoting Zambia to the Southern Africans, every category was truly Zambian. The comperes on the night were Nada Maksimovic Chibanda who also was the model trainer  and Chinyota Msimuko of Hot FM.

The contestants were judged on their physique in swim wear as they had had over eight weeks of physical training at a top gym called Universal fitness under the guidance of physical trainer Damien Musuka.

The cultural or traditional section followed while the the fine musician CQ performed his 'Camera Action' song along.

The Safari wear is intended to promote  game reserves  and to encourage people Zambians and tourists to holiday in Zambia.

The Top 25year old Zambian songstress Mampi wowed the crowd as she perfomed during the evening wear section after which the 15 contestants were narrowed to ten as they had done the Pre judging the week before, adding on to the perfomance on the night. Prejudging carried thirty percent of the marks.

The top ten were then asked questions prepared by the judges themselves. After this round the judges then narrowed it to the top five and awarded the marks as:Best Model which went to Sasha Sampa, Miss Photogenic and Miss Popularity went to Kalwa Musonda who had the most 'Likes' on facebook while Natasha Chushi was the Miss Personality.

The top three awards were announced in reverse order. Second runner up was awarded to Ruth Musakabantu, first runner up went to Kukena Kanema and the ultimate winner was Sophie Chinkumbi who works for Emirates Airline Zambia as  Customer Sales  and Services agent..

Sophie becomes the Ambassador for Cancer support network of Zambia sensitising the young and old on early signs of Cancer and the services and treatments available in Zambia currently. She also becomes the Patron for 'Chikumbutso Project for Women and Children in   Lusaka a charity dedicated to improving the lives of under priviledged  survivors of HIV scourge as well as the Patron for Mumba children's project in the rural Mpongwe.

She will also work with the under priviledged children under the Mumba Children's Project.

Sophie, an orphan herself, knows how much it means to be helped and she intends to use her title to support women, children and the vulnerable.

Sophie's dress for the Evening section was hand done by Towani clarke of Kutowa Designs. Towani encourages women in the nearby under priviledged compound to collect bottle tops and with the off cut materials the women cover those bottle tops which Towani uses as embellishments in most of her designs. In return she pays women for their service and they in turn use the money to help feed their families. The dress Sophie wore on the night and the necklace and bracelet consisted of 100 covered bottle tops.  

Sophie also won a weekend stay at Mukuba hotel in Ndola courtesy of Mukuba hotel  and a return flight to South Africa, a five day stay at Emperor's hotel and a trial at two top most modelling agencies in South Africa courtesy of LIV investments. She also wins 5million Zambian kwacha cash courtesy of Diamond Casino.

Photo credits Nathan Banda of Natman Production

Report by Hildah  Mulenga

 

 

 Skype: mulenga.hildah