Times Of Swaziland: MISS CULTURE INTERNATIONAL POSTPONED

MISS CULTURE INTERNATIONAL POSTPONED
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Neliswa Sibiya on 06/11/2024 07:00:00


MBABANE - A significant shift in Miss Culture International has prompted the
organisers of the pageant to announce a new date for the event.
Originally slated for April 2025, the pageant will now take place in October
2025. This change comes in response to serious allegations surrounding the
pageant, necessitating a thorough investigation to uphold the integrity of the
organisation and ensure the safety of participants. These allegations were by
the Pageants Eswatini Director, Tony Dlamini, who had issued a warning to people
who host modelling events to follow procedure. He highlighted that he had an
encounter with international pageants where hosts allegedly take advantage of
participants.
Nerville Johnson, Director of Creativity Platforms, who was the local organiser
of the event, bringing in the collaboration with the international pageant,
stressed the importance of a comprehensive enquiry into the concerns raised by
models and stakeholders involved in previous competitions. “We must ensure
that we do not jeopardise the organisation or the country as a whole.
“Following serious allegations, we opted to conduct consultations that would
clarify any issues regarding the pageant,” he stated.
Discussions
These consultations reportedly included discussions with models who participated
in past events, as well as partners who have previously collaborated with the
organisation. Johnson noted that the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,
with many expressing a strong desire for the event to proceed successfully in
Eswatini, provided that past misconduct is adequately addressed. Reflecting on
his visit to the competition in April 2024, where Noncedo Mamba represented
Eswatini and earned the title of second princess, Johnson acknowledged the
concerns raised by international attendees regarding the planning and execution
of the event.
“We aim to rectify those errors. If we can unite as Eswatini citizens, we
could host a highly successful event that attracts tourists,” he remarked. The
organisers are appealing to the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture
(ENCAC) to collaborate with them, emphasising the crucial role of government
support in ensuring the event’s success. “This is an occasion that connects
our nation and requires the government’s attention to thrive,” Johnson
added. It is noteworthy that these allegations were highlighted by Eswatini
Pageants Director, Tony Dlamini, who released a statement asserting that the
ENCAC opposed hosting the pageant due to the committee’s alleged fraudulent
activities.
Oversees
In the United States, there is no single governing body that oversees all beauty
pageants. However, several prominent organisations, such as the Miss America
Organisation and the Miss USA Organisation, set specific guidelines and
standards for their respective pageants. These organisations require local and
state pageants to be registered and comply with their regulations to qualify for
national competitions. While it is not illegal to host a pageant without
affiliation, those not registered with these established bodies may find it
challenging to gain recognition and legitimacy within the competitive beauty
pageant community.