WHILE countries around the world continue to crown queens and prepare them for international competitions, the country is still waiting for the return of its national pageant.
The Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture (ENCAC) says preparations for the relaunch of Miss Eswatini are in their final stages, with an interim committee already interviewed and expected to be announced soon.
The update comes after a lengthy period without a new Miss Eswatini being crowned.
The last titleholder, Temvelo Nicole Mtsetfwa was crowned in 2024. Since then, the future of the national pageant has remained uncertain, leaving aspiring contestants and pageant followers waiting for clarity on when the competition will return.
ENCAC Chief Executive Officer Stanley Dlamini said the council had completed interviews for people who will serve on the interim committee responsible for overseeing the return of the pageant.
“We have already interviewed the people who will serve on the interim committee. We are now finalising the process and will soon make an announcement before officially launching Miss Eswatini,” he said.
Dlamini said the committee would be responsible for rebuilding and managing the national competition, including identifying and preparing the country’s representative for international competitions such as Miss Universe.
The planned relaunch comes as pageantry continues to move ahead in other countries.
In South Africa, the Miss South Africa 2026 competition has already progressed to the finalist stage. The organisation announced its Top 19 finalists on August 19, with the contestants now taking part in the next stages of the competition.
The Miss South Africa finale is expected to take place mid-October, when the country will crown its new titleholder.
The competition has also included an emphasis on social impact, with the finalists taking part in the Empower Youth Africa programme. The initiative focuses on areas including youth and women’s empowerment, education, entrepreneurship, skills development, health and wellness as well as leadership.
Other countries have also been selecting their representatives for international competitions.
Tharina Botes, a South African-born model of Thai and South African heritage, was crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2026 on August 23. Botes, who represented Bangkok in the competition, will represent Thailand at Miss Universe 2026.
Her crowning is among the latest developments in the international pageant calendar as countries select and prepare their representatives for major competitions.
For the country, the immediate focus is now on the appointment of the interim committee and the formal launch of the renewed Miss Eswatini competition.
Dlamini said ENCAC wanted the pageant to return with proper structures and high standards, while providing contestants with a credible platform.
“We want a process that is transparent, professional and beneficial to the contestants. Miss Eswatini is an important national platform and we want to ensure that it continues to empower young women while promoting the country internationally,” he said.
Model and pageantry enthusiast Nocendo Mamba said developments in other countries had increased interest in the return of Miss Eswatini.
“People are excited to see Miss Eswatini return because pageants create opportunities for young women to develop confidence, leadership skills and advocacy platforms,” she said.
Dlamini said ENCAC remained committed to ensuring that Eswatini was able to compete effectively on the international stage.
“We are excited about the future of the pageant and the opportunities it presents for young women. Once the committee is announced, the public will receive more information about the launch and the road ahead,” he said.
The return of Miss Eswatini will also determine when the country can once again select a representative to compete on the international pageant stage.
For now, pageant followers are waiting for the announcement of the interim committee and further details on the official launch.
Meanwhile, the dispute concerning the Miss Eswatini prize vehicle remains before the courts.
Dlamini said ENCAC respected the legal process and would allow the matter to take its course.
“We respect the legal process and will allow it to take its course,” he said.
