By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Taking the podium as guest speaker today at Concord for Young Women in Business, Miss Universe Zimbabwe Lyshanda Moyas delivered a powerful address centered on dignity, faith, and purpose.
“Dignity comes from understanding that you are created in the image of God. You are who you think you are,” Moyas said.
“I have the crown. I have the glamour. I have the social media validation. But behind all of that—and remember—all of this can disappear overnight. The relationships you make, the humility you step on stage with, grows and follows you for the rest of your life.”
Moyas who is set to handover her crown in July reminded the audience attending the Mother’s Day Seminar that her title will one day be handed over, but her character will remain.
“The title will be handed over, but Moyas as a brand, as a public figure—I carry myself with grace, with composure, and purpose. Because the platform I represent, I have to be confident. I have to be respectful. I have to be excellent in every way,” she said. “Dignity is seen in how I speak, how I interact, and how I treat the person beside me.”
She posed a reflective question to the young women in attendance: “What kind of woman do you want to be? What kind of woman do you want to be seen as?”
Moyas stressed that true beauty is internal, urging women never to compromise their standards.
“Beauty does not come from what is on my face but what is inside. Never lose your standards to fit into a space,” she said.
“A dignified woman protects the people around her, pours wisdom into the people around her, and never disrespects the person next to her or herself.”
Acknowledging the barriers many women face, she encouraged faith and self-belief.
“Many women are held back by fears, by failures, by rejection, and sometimes financial and social struggles. But God specializes in using ordinary people for extraordinary things,” she said.
“A future without limits begins when you believe in yourself again, when you step out in faith, and when you stop speaking negatively to yourself about yourself.”
She called on the women to trust both God and their own potential. “Trust God, and trust yourself that you can achieve that dream you have for yourself—from Zimbabwe to global platforms.”
Moyas also offered a reminder that success is not limited to any single career path. “It may not be in modeling. It may not be in nursing. It may not be in finance.
“Those are the degrees I hope it may be something that you are about. Don’t let anything bring you down from getting to where you want to be. What matters is the vision, the discipline, the resilience, and most importantly, faith.”
With Mother’s Day as the backdrop, she spoke directly to the power of mothers’ words.
“Every woman has a purpose, and their purpose is bigger than any fear. For Mother’s Day—wisdom, character, strength—the word spoken by a mother can shape generations.
“So be careful what you speak to your children, because that is exactly what they become,” she said.
“Every mother here and mother-to-be, thank you for caring for your families, your dreams, your opportunities, and for building the nation.”
She concluded with a stirring charge to the women of Zimbabwe.
“Your future is not limited by your background, your age, or your status. You are powerful. You are important. You are chosen by yourself and by God. Stand up straight, walk tall, carry yourself with dignity, and pursue whatever dreams you set your eyes on.
“Like Queen Esther, you were born for such a time as this. The crown is not just for one woman, but for all of us as Zimbabwean women—as the nation.”
The Empower Her seminar formed part of Concord For Young Women in Business’ ongoing efforts to create economic and social opportunities for young women across Zimbabwe.
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