While many Malawians thought their representative at Miss World, Ireen Navicha, was coming back home after her Top Model exit, her Miss World journey is still alive.
The Miss Malawi Organisation has clarified that Navicha remains in the competition, with the Top 40 semi-finalists yet to be selected.
The clarification follows social media reports suggesting that Malawi had been eliminated after Ireen Navicha did not make the Top Model finalists.
Speaking to Malawi24, Miss Malawi Chief Operations Officer Godfrey Kambewa explained that the list of Top Model finalists being circulated is part of the Miss World fast-track challenges.
The challenges are preliminary competitions that give contestants an opportunity to secure an automatic place in the semi-finals, which typically consist of the Top 40 contestants.
Kambewa said the winner of the Top Model challenge will automatically secure a place in the semi-finals, but contestants who do not make the Top Model finalists still have opportunities to qualify through other fast-track challenges.
“Malawi is still fighting and she still has a strong chance to make it into the Top 40,” Kambewa said.
Meanwhile, the 2026 Miss World fast-track challenges are at different stages.
The Sports Challenge has been completed, with Puerto Rico’s Suil Anyelina Pagán becoming the first contestant to secure a direct place in the Top 40.
The Top Model challenge is still underway, with the final runway scheduled for August 28.
Other challenges, including the Head-to-Head and Talent competitions, are yet to take place, while Multimedia and People’s Choice voting and the Beauty with a Purpose challenge remain ongoing.
