‘Fight against over-population is on’
Our Entertainement Editor EDITH GONDWE caught up with newly-elected Miss Malawi Cecilia Khofi to learn more about her anspirations and other related matters. Experts:
Q
: First, tell us who is Cecilia Khofi?
A
: I am a fifth-born child in a family of six. I was born and raised in Blantyre District. My home village is Kamanga in Nkhotakota District. I did my primary school at Sacred Heart Private i where I was top of my class and got selected to Providence Girls Secondary School. I continued with my education at Chancellor College, a constituent college of the University of Malawi, where I studied Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition and graduated in 2015.
I am currently working with the Ministry of Health [MoH] at Blantyre District Health Office [DHO]. At the same time, I am a human rights activist working with several organisations in fighting against gender-based violence and human trafficking, which gives me great exposure to work with a lot of communities.
Q
: What motivated you to join the Miss Malawi contest?
A
: With the inspiration I got from my mother, a kind woman who is always willing to help others, I was motivated to join the Miss Malawi beauty pageant. I had desire to help others and be a role model to many young girls who struggle to find someone to look up to.
Q
: When you told your parents and family about your intention to contest, how did they react?
A
: My family was very supportive and welcomed the idea. Knowing the potential I have to do great things, they believed in me. They envisaged me becoming the young ambassador of Malawi and a role model to a lot of girls, hence they welcomed the idea and encouraged me to contest.
Q
: Miss Malawi office is basically about charity and development activities. How do you plan to fulfil expectations of the office?
A
: This year’s Miss Malawi office comes with an overwhelming and challenging package. However, I plan to partner and work hand in hand with different ministries and Non- governmental organisations [NGOs] in the course of developing our country and reaching out to the helpless and vulnerable people especially girls in relation to the theme as one way of curbing overpopulation.
I plan on promoting and championing girls’ education by inspiring girls to attain education and enrolling teenage mothers back into school.
Q
: There is a perception that Miss Malawi is about loose morals and girls exposing nudity, what is your stand on this and how do you plan to change this perception among Malawians?
A
: Malawians are very sensitive to culture. What is crucial is to live within the precepts of what is acceptable, acknowledging the value of the Malawian culture while serving as Miss Malawi. But as a nation, we need to embrace beauty pageants as a platform for empowering the young and the beautiful to exploit their potential, to excel in their dreams as they become agents of change for their peers who often have no hope for a better future. My role is to make Malawians appreciate beauty pageants promote the girl child to develop her mind and the minds of others and I will endeavour to achieve thisduring my tenure through awareness.
Q
: When you were announced winner together with your two princesses, there was a debate that suggested that maybe the judges were biased towards University of Malawi graduates. How do you react to that?
A
: To be crowned Miss Malawi involves satisfying a whole range of competition requirements. It has nothing to do with having or not having a university degree. I am proud that I have a university degree but surely, I was not favoured whatsoever and equally so the two runners-up. And as Miss Malawi, I will inspire many girls to pursue tertiary education because it opens the entire world to them, just as it has done to me.
Q
: So far, how is life as a beauty queen?
A
: It is very exciting, humbling and challenging at the same time knowing I have a big responsibility to serve and represent my country and at the same time stay true to myself.
Q
: After all is said and done, how would you want Malawi to appreciate you?
A
: There is an unspoken assumption that beauty pageants are all about physical beauty. However, Miss Malawi is reassuringly refreshing as it is clear that the judges and organisers were looking for someone who would provide the country with the overall qualities of an ambassador, not just someone who would be judged on their appearance. Hence nothing would bring me joy if my country perceives me as a young ambassador of this country and a role model to a lot of girls. n
