Alice Musukwa: From Beauty Queen To Architect Of Zambia’s Pageantry Renaissance
Former Miss Universe Zambia (2010) and now a leading force in the country’s fashion and pageantry industry, Alice Rowlands Musukwa is steering Zambia into an era of historic firsts on the global stage.
As founder of ARM Model Management and national director for Miss Universe, Miss Grand, Miss World, Miss Supranational, and Mrs World Zambia, Musukwa oversees an unprecedented breadth of international pageants. Her tenure has coincided with milestones that have reshaped Zambia’s standing in the global arena.
This year, Zambia’s Miss World representative, Faith Bwalya, won the prestigious Head-to-Head Challenge, becoming the first Zambian to do so and earning a place in the competition’s Top 40, a feat unmatched in the country’s history. Similarly, NaMakau Nawa, representing Zambia at Miss Supranational, clinched the Supra Chat title and was crowned Continental Queen of Africa, marking another first for the nation.
In recognition of her leadership, Musukwa was honoured as National Director of the Year at the Miss Supranational pageant, further cementing her influence on the global stage.
These wins stand in stark contrast to Zambia’s past track record, where contestants often exited competitions without notable placements. For Musukwa, this shift is the result of a deliberate strategy.
Her vision goes beyond the crown. Through ARM Model Management, she has created a professional platform for Zambian talent to step onto some of the world’s most coveted runways,from Paris to Milan, London, and New York. She is also pushing back against entrenched misconceptions that modeling is frivolous, positioning it instead as a profession that drives cultural representation, economic growth, and youth empowerment.
Industry peers say her approach has opened doors that were previously unimaginable. “Alice has redefined what it means to be a Zambian model,” noted one fellow pageant director. “She has given young women and men not just visibility, but purpose.”
Her journey has not been without obstacles. From navigating limited local industry infrastructure to confronting stereotypes about beauty pageants, Musukwa has worked to secure international training, partnerships, and exposure for her contestants. “It hasn’t been easy,” she admits, “but every barrier we break sets the stage for the next generation to go further.”
In many ways, Musukwa’s career mirrors the transformation she is driving. From a titleholder breaking into the global scene to a national director rewriting Zambia’s place in international pageantry, her story reflects the country’s evolving confidence.
“Modeling and pageantry are powerful platforms to tell our story, showcase our culture, and create opportunities for young people,” she said. “If I could dream beyond borders, so can they.”
As Zambia’s models and beauty queens continue to make their mark worldwide, Alice Musukwa’s legacy is emerging as more than a list of wins,it is the blueprint for a new era of ambition, representation, and cultural pride.