More than just beauty: Ireen Navicha

Fresh from being crowned First Princess at the Miss Malawi 2025 pageant, Ireen Navicha is using the spotlight not just to celebrate beauty, but to amplify a cause close to her heart; girls’ education and empowerment. “The crown was deeply meaningful to me because it was a moment of validation and gratitude. For my advocacy work, it provided greater visibility and credibility,” she said.

Ireen believes Malawian beauty pageants are evolving into platforms that value purpose, intelligence and impact alongside beauty. “There is still room for growth, but the direction is promising,” she added. Her journey in beauty pageantry, including being crowned Miss Culture Malawi 2023 and representing Malawi internationally, has given her a powerful platform to amplify her voice.

“Pageantry has allowed me to engage wider audiences, attract partnerships and bring attention to issues affecting girls and education. It transformed my advocacy from local conversations to national and international dialogue,” she said. Beyond the crown, Ireen founded Greynavies Foundation, an organisation dedicated to breaking cycles of poverty through education and sustainable community initiatives.

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Founded in 2022, it was born out of her lived experiences in communities where limited access to education continues to hold girls back. Ireen added that Greynavies Foundation seeks to address educational inequality and the lack of empowerment opportunities for girls, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. According to her, many girls face barriers such as poverty, limited mentorship and inadequate resources.

Looking ahead, Ireen revealed the organisation’s five-year plan, including expanding education support programmes and strengthening girl-focused empowerment initiatives. She also plans to introduce mentorship and career guidance programmes, partnering with schools, non-governmental organisations, private institutions and create sustainable projects that support both education and economic empowerment. One of the foundation’s flagship initiatives is the Seed of Hope project, which empowers women and girls through education advocacy and sustainable livelihoods. The project targets women who cannot access formal education, including single mothers and young women.

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