Miss World Malawi 2026 Ireen Navicha has publicly thanked lawyer and human rights activist Alexious Kamangila for supporting and encouraging her throughout her journey.
Navicha, who represented Malawi at the Miss World 2026 competition in Vietnam, was among 10 African contestants who advanced to the Top 40.
She made the remarks in a Facebook post in which she described Kamangila as someone who had left a lasting mark on her life.
“Thank you for standing by me throughout this journey. Thank you for believing in me, encouraging me, speaking life into me, and always reminding me of the woman you knew I could become,” Navicha wrote.
She further thanked Kamangila for celebrating her achievements, encouraging her during difficult moments and consistently showing her kindness.
“I may not have the words to fully express how grateful I am, but please know that I carry your kindness with me,” she said.
Navicha also prayed for God’s blessings upon Kamangila for the support he had given her.
The beauty queen represented Malawi at the Miss World competition after being selected by the Miss Malawi Organisation to replace reigning Miss Malawi Thandi Chisi.
She later finished her Miss World campaign in the Top 40.
Kamangila is a reknowned lawyer and human rights advocate vocal in his fight against corruption and variopus forms of fraudulent practices.
Navicha’s selection was engulfed in controversy after the Miss Malawi Organisation sidelined reigning queen Thandi Chisi and handed the Miss World opportunity to Navicha, the daughter of Gender Minister Mary Navicha.
The organisers initially attempted to justify the decision by claiming that Chisi was ineligible because of her age. That explanation unravelled after it emerged that she was within the Miss World age limit, forcing the organisation to change its account of why she had been excluded.
The shifting explanations fuelled accusations of dishonesty, favouritism and nepotism. Navicha was subsequently nicknamed the “nepo baby” on social media, while Kamangila emerged as one of her most vocal public defenders.
The controversy, first exposed by Malawi24, was later followed up by other local and international media outlets, including the BBC.
