The first runner-up of Miss International 2025 is packing her bags for Lagos — and she’s coming hungry for Nigeria’s most beloved dish.
Yollanda Chimbarami, the Zimbabwean model, actress, and philanthropist who made history last year as Miss International Africa 2025 and 1st Runner-Up at the global Miss International pageant in Japan, has confirmed she’ll be in Nigeria on April 19.
In a cheerful video message, Chimbarami greeted Nigerians in pidgin-style warmth:
“Hello, ‘Bawoni’ — this is Yollanda Chimbarami, your Miss International Africa 2025 and your Miss International first runner-up. I’m excited to announce that on the 19th of April, I will be live in Nigeria at the Face of Hope. Pangeons and lifestyle, and I hope to see you there. I cannot wait to experience the Nigerian culture and the people, but let me tell you a little secret. My favourite dish is okra soup. So I can’t wait to taste all the okra that Nigeria has to offer. See you on the 19th.”
She’ll be a VIP guest at the grand coronation of Miss International Nigeria, set to take place at Eko Hotels & Suites — an evening organisers say will blend elegance, culture, and global excellence.
Chimbarami’s visit marks one of the biggest international appearances for the pageant this year. The 28-year-old made history as Zimbabwe’s highest-placed contestant ever at Miss International 2025. Before that, she wore the crowns of Miss Intercontinental Zimbabwe 2022 and Miss Supranational Zimbabwe.
Beyond the runway, she’s built a reputation for purpose-driven work. She co-founded the Help a Child Save a Nation foundation, which sponsors school fees and expenses for more than 170 underprivileged children in remote parts of Zimbabwe. By profession, she’s an economist who splits her time between Canada and Zimbabwe, and she also works as a fashion designer and voice-over artist. Her acting credits include Windfall (2019), A Social (2022), and Supa Strikas: Rookie Season.
In recent weeks, she’s stayed active on the pageant circuit, serving as a guest judge for Miss Intercontinental Zambia and attending the Iconic Africa Summit & Honours 2026.
But for her Nigeria stop, the highlight might be what’s on the menu. Chimbarami has declared okra soup her favourite, and she’s eager to sample “all the okra that Nigeria has to offer” when she arrives on April 19.
