Zimbabwe’s Second Lady, Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga, has joined the Miss Universe judging panel, marking a historic first for Zimbabwe.
She becomes the country’s first non-model appointed as an official judge.
A groundbreaking appointment
Baloyi- Chiwenga, who is chairperson of the Miss Universe Zimbabwe organisation and wife of Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, joins a high-profile judging panel in Thailand.
The judging panel includes former competition winners Natalie Glebova of Canada (2005) and Andrea Meza of Mexico (2020), as well as fashion executives, cultural leaders and international creatives.
Together, they will evaluate more than 80 contestants from across the world.
Baloyi-Chiwenga becomes the first Zimbabwean judge at Miss Universe who is not a professional model or pageant titleholder.
As reported by The Herald Online, Baloyi-Chiwenga said she feels honoured to represent Zimbabwe at such an international level.
“This responsibility is bigger than myself. It reflects Zimbabwe’s return to global participation and the world’s recognition of our standards,” she said.
Miss Universe welcomes Baloyi-Chiwenga
Miss Universe has officially welcomed Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga to its 74th Selection Committee, praising her as a distinguished leader and visionary changemaker.
On its official Facebook page, the organisation highlighted her achievements.
The organisation noted that she is fluent in six languages and became the first woman to command a UN peacekeeping platoon in Angola.
They also recognised her ongoing contributions in education, healthcare, sustainability, and the fashion industry.
Miss Universe describes her commitment to empowerment as making her an “extraordinary voice” in selecting the next queen.
