MBABANE – Eswatini has once again missed out on the Miss World pageant, where the country had a chance to compete at an international level.
The 72nd Miss World 2025 was held on May 31, 2025 at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The grand finale of the pageant, which included various activities and challenges throughout the month, culminated with the crowning of Opal Suchata Chuangsri from Thailand as the new Miss World.
The crowning of Miss World was televised in select countries, including India, France, Colombia, Jamaica, Mauritius, Vietnam, Botswana, Trinidad and Tobago and Lebanon. Eswatini’s last participation in the Miss World competition was in 2009, with Nompilo Mncina as the representative. Since then, the country has not sent a contestant to the international pageant.
Eswatini could not participate in the international beauty pageant because as of September, no registration dates for entries have been announced for the national pageant.
During an interview with Pageants Eswatini Chairman Tony Dlamini, he was asked if they would host the Mr and Miss Eswatini pageants this year.
He said it might be hosted and it might also not be hosted. “It has not yet been finalised, as you know, we have also been busy with national events such as Butimba and Umhlanga. We are yet to discuss this matter with the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) office,” Dlamini said.
He also mentioned that the current court case for Miss Eswatini is also making it difficult for them to have the pageant. “You are aware that there is a current case about Miss Eswatini, we cannot then run to host a pageant while there is a pending case in court.’’
The court case involves the previous licence holders who had promised the winner of the 2024 pageant a car and their promise didn’t come to fruition and other incidents.
Other pageants operated by ENCAC, such as Miss Cultural Heritage and Miss Teen, have run successfully this year, with Miss Teen having already been crowned.
Dlamini mentioned that pageants which run annually, such as the Mr and Miss Eswatini pageants, rely on sponsors.
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