AFTER a competing stay in Mexico, Brandina Lubuli, the woman sent to represent Zambia in the just ended Miss Universe competition has said the pageant was not about the crown, but presence for her.
Zambia was among the 128 countries worldwide that took part in the pageant.
And despite arriving six days late at the competition due to some travelling challenges, Brandina ensured her name and face was noticed, as she managed to do everything that her fellow competitors did in five days, in a day.
“It was really difficult and challenging, but we did it. I lost my most important luggage that contained my makeup and some important out fits and they only came in after two days. But still, I had to work with what was there and ensured that Zambia was noticed,” she said as she was being welcomed at the Kenneth International Airport yesterday.
However, these challenges also earned her some criticism from some Zambian fans who said she lacked stage presence and energy in her performances and also that her outfits were too average, with most blaming the organisers of Miss Universe Zambia, for lack of adequate preparation.
But the model who is also a wife and mother equally blamed the poor performance on Zambia’s failure to vote, stating that she had done many international pageants which she has won.
“This is my first time returning home without a crown. I have done many international pageants and I have won them. But I think I did well, I was a power house, but again, what we don’t understand is that we as Zambians also need to vote.”
“We only had two African countries in the top 30, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. And when you look at Nigeria’s population, it is like three times bigger than us. So we also need to vote in order to push us farther,” she added.
Meanwhile, Brandina said her return from Mexico is now just the beginning of her works for the country as she has to use her Crown to help the nation.
“This is the beginning of my reign,” said Brandina.
Brandina was welcomed by her family including her three children, and other supporters.
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba November 21, 2024
