By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
The lights have dimmed. The crown has found its home. And the newly appointed Miss Universe Zimbabwe board is finally exhaling.
By most measures, the pageant held last weekend at the Hippodrome in Harare was a resounding success. The venue was packed. The hospitality was top-tier.
The production? International in ambition, and largely in execution.
For a first outing, the board achieved what many said they couldn’t: a show that felt like it belonged on a global stage.
“The Room Was Blue, But I Was Greener”
Among those still buzzing from the night is board member Apphia Musavengana, known to many as La Patrona Jnr. She didn’t hide her admiration for the man behind much of the magic—Kevin the Wedding Planner, Zimbabwe’s foremost celebrity host and event organiser, whose imprint includes the prestigious Celestial Chorus Soiree.
“Well done, Uncle KV,” Musavengana aka La Patrona Jnr said, referring to the evening’s blue dress code. “The room was blue, but I was greener.”
It was a playful confession from someone who knows quality when she sees it—and knows when to tip her hat to excellence.
“To God Be the Glory”
Board Chairperson Danya Kabwebwe—Chanic La Patrona to her Facebook followers—struck a more reflective tone. For her, the success was spiritual before it was logistical.
Madame Danya Kabwebwe aka La Patrona Snr
“Serving on the Miss Universe board is a privilege I do not take for granted,” she wrote. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a platform that celebrates leadership, purpose, and the power of empowering others.
“Above every achievement, I give all glory to God. His guidance, grace, and favor have opened doors I could never have opened on my own. I’m reminded that when we serve with humility and lead with faith, He directs our steps.”
She signed off with a string of hashtags that said it all: #GratefulHeart #MissUniverse #FaithOverFear #PurposeDriven #ToGodBeTheGlory.
The Grey Areas
But perfection, as they say, is a moving target. And even the board would admit—quietly, perhaps—that the night had its wrinkles.
First, there was the Temba Mliswa moment. As newly crowned queen Roseanna Hall took her victory stroll, the outspoken headman from Shurugwi stormed the stage and appeared to tip her with a few dollars. It was bizarre. It was uncomfortable. And it could have been avoided.
Second, the programme length. For an international pageant, the ceremony should ideally wrap within 45 minutes before the crowning. This one ran considerably longer. In the world of live television and restless audiences, time is not just money—it’s attention.
Then there were the murmurs about the judges. How did they arrive at Roseanna Hall, a former judge of the pageant herself, as the winner? Every pageant has its whispers when the crowd’s favorite doesn’t take the crown. But the rule remains: there can only be one queen.
Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2026 Roseanna Hall
The Faces Behind the Machine
The new board is a blend of experience and ambition. Besides Musavengana and Kabwebwe, the lineup includes journalist Tafadzwa Zimoyo, board advisor Zodwa Mkandla, Tendai K. Zhou (Kevin the Wedding Planner), Darlic Marandure, Brooke B. Jackson, and Joshua Taderera.
The executive team is led by Tendai Hunda as Chief Executive Officer, with Patience Lusengo serving as Director for Miss World and Miss International.
The Verdict
Pageants are messy. They are emotional. They are deeply human. And Zimbabwe’s first Miss Universe outing under this new board was no exception.
But here’s what matters: the show went on. The crowd showed up. A queen was crowned. And a board learned what works—and what needs fixing. As Musavengana might say: The room was blue, but the future is bright.
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