Miss Universe Zambia is a beauty pageant to select Zambian women to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. The current President is Tendai Hunda and Zodwa Mkandla designated as the national director of Miss Universe Zambia.
History
1993–1994 Zambia's first attempt to compete in the Miss Universe was in 1993, with the Miss Zambia 1992, Elizabeth Mwanza but nevertheless she could not arrive in Mexico to compete due to problems with the Mexican visa. She postponed her participation to the following year, and she had the same problem with the Filipino visa, and she finally gave up participating in the Miss Universe.
1995–1998 The Miss Universe Zambia pageant headquartered in Lusaka and created first winning pageant, Luo Trica Punabantu of Lusaka to Miss Universe 1995 in Windhoek, Namibia. In this period the Miss Zambia Universe organizer was Eva Kazembe and she had only had contributed in 1995 edition of Miss Universe. She had already chosen queens in 1996 (Tamara Kalube) and in 1997 (Kusobile Kamwambi), but none of them competed in Miss Universe pageant due to the lack of funds, problems with the American visa, in addition that Organization did not delivering them the promised awards. In 1998, Eva lost the franchise.
1999–2000 Miss Zambia Pageant obtained the license again for 2 years and contributed to Zambia's second participation in the Miss Universe with Esanju Kalopa, Miss Zambia 1998 pageant first princess in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago. The following year the followed participation was planned with Sidonia Mwape, Miss Zambia 1999 pageant first princess but due lack of money and sponsors, she could not compete in the Miss Universe 2000, in Nicosia, Cyprus. Miss Zambia Pageant was delayed by 3 years until 2003 due lack of money and sponsors, and the organizers decided dropping the Miss Universe licence in 2001.
2005–2010 After a hiatus of 5 years, the Miss Universe Zambia took over by Mrs. Wendy Chandra-Fornari in Lusaka. The Miss Universe Zambia winners mostly achieved high placement in another beauty competitions such as Miss Tourism Queen International and Miss Africa International. On May 28, 2010, the last Miss Universe Zambia under Mrs. Wendy was Alice Rowlands Musukwa of Chipata. She represented Zambia in Miss Universe 2010 edition in Las Vegas, USA.
2017–2019 The license holder of Miss Universe in Zambia between 2017 and 2019 was in Alice Rowlands, former Miss Universe Zambia 2010.
2024―present A new era is beginning, providing an open space for Zambia to return to Miss Universe. Starting in 2024, Tendai Hunda will take over the Miss Universe Zambia license, working closely with the Zambian team and Zodwa Mkandla, the new national director of Miss Universe Zambia.
Titleholders
Year Province Miss Zambia Placement at Miss Universe Special Award(s) NotesAlice Musukwa directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe from 2025 2026 Southern Province Mubanga Hatyoka TBA 2025 Copperbelt Kunda Mwamulima UnplacedTundai Hunda directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe from 2024 2024 Copperbelt Brandina Lubuli Unplaced Alice Musukwa directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 2017―2019 colspan=6 2019 Lusaka Didia Mukwala colspan=2 Didia decided to quit from Miss Universe 2019, due to lack of sponsorships. 2018 Southern Province Melba Shakabozha Unplaced 2017 Copperbelt Isabel Chikoti Unplaced Wendy Chandra-Fornari directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 2005―2010 colspan=7 2010 Eastern Province Alice Rowlands Musukwa Unplaced 2009 Luapula Andella Chileshe Matthews Unplaced colspan=6 2007 Lusaka Rosemary Chileshe Unplaced 2006 Southern Province Mofya Nickoleta Chisenga† Unplaced 2005 Lusaka Cynthia Kanema Unplaced Miss Universe Zambia (another agency) directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1993―2000 colspan=6 2000 Lusaka Sidonia Mwape colspan=2 Sidonia decided to quit from Miss Universe 2000, due to lack of sponsorships. 1999 Muchinga Esanju Kalopa† Unplaced colspan=6 1996 Lusaka Tamara Kalube colspan=3 1995 Lusaka Luo Trica Punabantu Unplaced colspan=6 1993 Lusaka Elizabeth Mwanza colspan=3
Wins by province ProvinceTitlesYears Lusaka 7 1993, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2019 Copperbelt 3 2017, 2024, 2025 Bulawayo 3 2006, 2018, 2026 Eastern Province 1 2010 Luapula 2009 Muchinga 1999
Notable winner notes
References
External links missuniversezambia.com