Yollanda Chimbarami Credits Hallelujah Challenge for Strengthening Her Faith Ahead of Miss International Success
For Zimbabwean beauty queen Yollanda Chimbarami, winning international recognition was more than a moment of glamour, hard work and determination. It was also the fulfilment of a personal journey built on faith, prayer and the courage to pursue a dream despite uncertainty. The former Miss International Africa 2025 and first runner-up at Miss International 2025 has opened up about how the Hallelujah Challenge, a Christian prayer movement founded by Nigerian gospel minister Nathaniel Bassey, became an important part of her preparations for the global beauty competition. During a 21-day period of fasting and prayer, Chimbarami committed herself to believing that she would achieve something remarkable on the international stage. Looking back at her experience, she says the prayer movement helped strengthen her faith and gave her the confidence to keep moving towards a goal that eventually became a defining moment in Zimbabwean pageant history.
Chimbarami’s journey to Miss International 2025 involved more than preparing for the competition’s demanding presentations and public appearances. She also invested time in her spiritual life, using prayer and fasting as sources of strength during a period filled with expectations and uncertainty. In October 2024, she participated in the Hallelujah Challenge and committed to 21 days of fasting and prayer specifically for her Miss International ambitions. She acknowledged that the experience was not easy, particularly during moments when doubt and uncertainty challenged her confidence. However, she continued to believe in her dream and remained determined to see it through.
“Last October, I fasted and prayed for 21 days for Miss International and honestly, it wasn’t an easy journey. There were moments of uncertainty, moments when my faith was tested, but through it all, I kept believing and pushing forward,” she said.
One of the most memorable moments during her participation in the Hallelujah Challenge was the “Dress Like Your Miracle” exercise. The session encouraged participants to dress in a way that represented the breakthrough or achievement they were praying for. For Chimbarami, the exercise provided an opportunity to make her dream feel more tangible, even before she had competed internationally. She chose to wear her Miss International sash as a symbol of the achievement she hoped to realise. At that point, the sash represented a future she was praying towards rather than a title she had already secured.
Her decision to wear the sash reflected the confidence and determination she was trying to maintain throughout her preparation. Rather than allowing the uncertainty surrounding the competition to weaken her belief, she chose to focus on the outcome she wanted to achieve. She repeatedly declared that she would return from Japan with a crown, holding firmly to the possibility of success. This mindset became an important part of her personal preparation as she worked towards representing Zimbabwe on the international stage. For Chimbarami, the experience demonstrated how faith can provide emotional and spiritual support when pursuing ambitions that require patience and resilience.
“Every single day, I declared that I was not leaving Japan without a crown and just like that, God did what only He could do,” she said.
Her eventual performance at Miss International 2025 turned that declaration into a memorable achievement. Chimbarami secured the Miss International Africa 2025 distinction and finished first runner-up in the overall competition, placing ahead of contestants representing countries from across the world. Her result marked Zimbabwe’s highest-ever placement at the prestigious international pageant, which attracted 82 contestants. Colombia’s Catalina Duque won the Miss International crown, succeeding Vietnam’s Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy. Although Chimbarami did not take the overall title, her first runner-up finish represented a major milestone for Zimbabwean beauty pageantry and placed her among the leading contestants in the global competition.
The achievement also demonstrated the importance of international exposure for Zimbabwean representatives in major beauty competitions. Miss International provides contestants with an opportunity to showcase their communication skills, cultural identity, confidence and ability to engage with people from different backgrounds. Reaching the final stages of such a competition requires dedication beyond appearance, including preparation, discipline, public engagement and the ability to perform under pressure. Chimbarami’s result gave Zimbabwe a moment of international recognition while strengthening the country’s presence in the global pageant space. Her story has since become an example of how ambition, preparation and personal conviction can work together in pursuit of a major goal.
For Chimbarami, however, the prayers she made during the Hallelujah Challenge extended beyond winning a beauty pageant. She also prayed for opportunities to travel and visit destinations she had long hoped to explore. During the prayer sessions, she recalled holding her passport while praying over the places she wanted to visit. The exercise represented her desire to experience opportunities beyond her immediate environment and to see more of the world. Looking back over the past 12 months, she says she has travelled more than at any other time in her life. The experiences that followed her Miss International participation have therefore become another important part of her testimony.
“The places I prayed about, the doors that opened, and the opportunities I have experienced are a constant reminder that God can do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ever ask or imagine,” she said.
Her reflections highlight how the impact of the competition extended beyond the final results and the recognition that came with her placement. International pageants can create opportunities for travel, networking, cultural exchange and new professional experiences. For a contestant, these opportunities can become part of a much wider personal journey that continues long after the final announcement on stage. Chimbarami’s experience has strengthened her belief in the importance of remaining open to opportunities while continuing to work towards personal goals. She now views many of the experiences she has encountered as reminders of the prayers and hopes she carried before travelling to Japan.
Her connection with the Hallelujah Challenge has also remained strong following her success. Chimbarami recently experienced another emotional moment during the latest edition of the prayer movement, when participants again took part in the “Dress Like Your Miracle” exercise. This time, she was able to reflect on the distance between the young woman who once wore a Miss International sash while praying for a breakthrough and the woman who eventually returned from the competition with international recognition. The exercise brought back memories of her 2024 prayers and the uncertainty she experienced before the competition. She now hopes to share her testimony during a future edition of the challenge to encourage other participants who are believing for their own breakthroughs.
Her message is particularly relevant to young people who are pursuing ambitions that may appear difficult or even impossible at first. Chimbarami believes that people should not allow discouragement, uncertainty or the opinions of others to determine how far they are willing to go. She encourages those facing difficult circumstances to remain consistent in prayer, continue taking practical steps towards their goals and hold on to their convictions. Her own experience illustrates that the journey towards success can involve difficult moments that require patience and determination. She wants others to understand that setbacks do not necessarily mean that a dream is out of reach.
“To anyone believing God for something right now, please don’t give up. Keep praying. Keep showing up. Keep declaring His promises, even when you cannot see how it will happen. Your faith doesn’t have to feel big; even faith as small as a mustard seed, can move mountains,” she said.
Chimbarami’s story also carries significance for Zimbabwe’s beauty pageant industry as the country continues preparing for another edition of Miss International. Zimbabwe is set to be represented by Ruvimbo Tafadzwa Njomboro at this year’s competition, carrying forward the country’s participation on the global stage. Chimbarami’s first runner-up achievement provides an important benchmark for future representatives and demonstrates that Zimbabwean contestants can compete successfully against participants from around the world. Her experience may also offer valuable encouragement to Njomboro as she prepares for the responsibilities and expectations that come with representing the country internationally. Beyond the competition itself, Chimbarami’s journey highlights the importance of confidence, preparation, cultural representation and a strong sense of purpose.
The Miss International platform is also an opportunity for contestants to represent more than themselves. Participants carry their countries’ identities, cultures and aspirations while engaging with international audiences. For Zimbabwe, Chimbarami’s achievement helped create greater visibility for the country’s pageant industry and offered a positive example of international competitiveness. Her story has also shown how beauty pageant participation can become a platform for personal development and broader opportunities. As a former contestant who reached the competition’s highest levels, she now has an experience that can encourage future Zimbabwean representatives to approach their own journeys with confidence.
Despite the attention surrounding her international achievement, Chimbarami’s reflections show that she places considerable value on the personal journey behind the crown. The 21 days of fasting and prayer, the symbolic decision to wear her sash during the Hallelujah Challenge and the declarations she made before travelling to Japan have become important parts of her story. They represent a period when her ambitions were still uncertain and the outcome of the competition remained unknown. Her eventual success has given those memories a different meaning, allowing her to look back with gratitude and share what the experience taught her. For her, the greatest significance lies not only in the position she achieved but also in the faith and determination that sustained her along the way.
“My story is proof that the prayers you whisper today can become the testimony you share tomorrow. Keep believing. Your miracle is worth the wait,” she said.
Yollanda Chimbarami’s experience with the Hallelujah Challenge offers an inspiring account of faith, ambition and perseverance behind one of Zimbabwe’s most significant international pageant achievements. Her first runner-up finish at Miss International 2025 and recognition as Miss International Africa 2025 marked a historic moment for the country, but her personal testimony reveals the determination that accompanied her journey. Through her story, she hopes to encourage others to keep pursuing their dreams, remain committed during difficult periods and never allow uncertainty to destroy their belief in what is possible. Her experience also provides encouragement for Zimbabwe’s next generation of beauty queens as they prepare to represent the country internationally. For Chimbarami, the crown was an achievement, but the journey from prayer to international success remains a testimony she intends to share with others.
