Ireen Navicha is fighting for more than a crown at Miss World 2026, using the global stage to draw attention to a challenge that continues to steal opportunities from many Malawian girls.
Navicha raised the issue during the Head-to-Head Challenge as she pushes for a place in the competition’s Top 40.
Speaking before the judges, Navicha shared how her experiences while studying at university and interacting with communities inspired her to support girls who have dropped out of school because of teenage pregnancy and early marriage.
Navicha said she witnessed several of her friends dropping out of school during her studies. She later encountered girls in communities who had been forced to leave school and enter marriages after becoming pregnant.
“This is something that broke my heart the most,” Navicha told the judges.
She said these experiences motivated her to establish the GreyNavies Foundation, which, in collaboration with the Chimbota community, launched the “When a Mother Is a Child” project.
The project focuses on helping teenage mothers return to school and continue their education.
“The aim of this project is to bring girls back to school,” she said.
Navicha told the judges that the initiative has supported girls by constructing a hostel and providing scholarships, particularly for those from vulnerable families who struggle to meet education-related costs.
She also highlighted the difficulties young mothers face when attempting to return to school while caring for their children.
To address this challenge, Navicha said the project established a nursery where the children of young mothers can be cared for while their mothers attend school.
She further said the GreyNavies Foundation has worked with various stakeholders, including government, to advocate for measures to address teenage pregnancy and early marriage.
However, Navicha said the project has faced challenges, including resistance from some girls who were reluctant to return to school or leave their marriages because they wanted to remain at home to care for their children.
According to Navicha, the experience made the organization realize that it was confronting deeply rooted cultural norms.
“We realised that we were challenging cultural norms that have been there for generations. We started mobilizing communities through campaigns, and we sat down with parents and taught them that education is important,” she said.
Closing her remarks, Navicha said that if crowned Miss World, she would use the platform to create more educational opportunities for girls.
She said the challenges affecting girls are not unique to Malawi but are experienced in different parts of the world.
“It hurts when I see people calling teen mothers different shameful names. It hurts when I see people calling teen mothers a mistake. It hurts when girls are being forced into marriage,” she said.
Navicha said her work with teenage mothers has deepened her understanding of the challenges they face and strengthened her determination to help girls reclaim their education and build better futures.
The Head-to-Head Challenge is among the fast-track competitions at the Miss World Festival, giving contestants an opportunity to share their personal stories, convictions and Beauty With a Purpose projects.
The Head-to-Head Challenge 2026 Round One features contestants from the Asian and African regions, with participants competing to demonstrate their communication skills, personal convictions and advocacy work.
Following the first round, contestants who deliver the strongest performances will advance to the second round, where they will have another opportunity to showcase their abilities and compete for a direct place in the Top 40.
Navicha’s participation has given Malawi an opportunity to bring the country’s challenges surrounding teenage pregnancy, early marriage and girls’ education to the international stage.
Navicha raised the issue during the Head-to-Head Challenge as she pushes for a place in the competition’s Top 40.
Speaking before the judges, Navicha shared how her experiences while studying at university and interacting with communities inspired her to support girls who have dropped out of school because of teenage pregnancy and early marriage.
Navicha said she witnessed several of her friends dropping out of school during her studies. She later encountered girls in communities who had been forced to leave school and enter marriages after becoming pregnant.
“This is something that broke my heart the most,” Navicha told the judges.
She said these experiences motivated her to establish the GreyNavies Foundation, which, in collaboration with the Chimbota community, launched the “When a Mother Is a Child” project.
The project focuses on helping teenage mothers return to school and continue their education.
“The aim of this project is to bring girls back to school,” she said.
Navicha told the judges that the initiative has supported girls by constructing a hostel and providing scholarships, particularly for those from vulnerable families who struggle to meet education-related costs.
She also highlighted the difficulties young mothers face when attempting to return to school while caring for their children.
To address this challenge, Navicha said the project established a nursery where the children of young mothers can be cared for while their mothers attend school.
She further said the GreyNavies Foundation has worked with various stakeholders, including government, to advocate for measures to address teenage pregnancy and early marriage.
However, Navicha said the project has faced challenges, including resistance from some girls who were reluctant to return to school or leave their marriages because they wanted to remain at home to care for their children.
According to Navicha, the experience made the organization realize that it was confronting deeply rooted cultural norms.
“We realised that we were challenging cultural norms that have been there for generations. We started mobilizing communities through campaigns, and we sat down with parents and taught them that education is important,” she said.
Closing her remarks, Navicha said that if crowned Miss World, she would use the platform to create more educational opportunities for girls.
She said the challenges affecting girls are not unique to Malawi but are experienced in different parts of the world.
“It hurts when I see people calling teen mothers different shameful names. It hurts when I see people calling teen mothers a mistake. It hurts when girls are being forced into marriage,” she said.
Navicha said her work with teenage mothers has deepened her understanding of the challenges they face and strengthened her determination to help girls reclaim their education and build better futures.
The Head-to-Head Challenge is among the fast-track competitions at the Miss World Festival, giving contestants an opportunity to share their personal stories, convictions and Beauty With a Purpose projects.
The Head-to-Head Challenge 2026 Round One features contestants from the Asian and African regions, with participants competing to demonstrate their communication skills, personal convictions and advocacy work.
Following the first round, contestants who deliver the strongest performances will advance to the second round, where they will have another opportunity to showcase their abilities and compete for a direct place in the Top 40.
Navicha’s participation has given Malawi an opportunity to bring the country’s challenges surrounding teenage pregnancy, early marriage and girls’ education to the international stage.
