This year’s edition of arguably the most authentic beauty pageant in the country, Miss Malaika, is almost at the homestretch, www.entertainmentgh.com reports!

In a little over 70 days from now a new queen takes over from Pearl Nyarko-Mensah, Miss Malaika Ghana 2017. But the journey to that unveil as history would have it has never been easy.

From heartbreaks to tears and cheers, shouts of joy to acts triggered by sour grapes and more, this pageant has seen it all; and last Saturday was no exception as nearly 60 wanna-be queens got their hopes crushed at the semi-final auditions of Miss Malaika Ghana 2018!

In previous editions, pageant organizers, Charterhouse Productions have selected only 20 girls at this stage for Bootcamp. But on Saturday 28th July 2018, a slight deviation from the norm was experienced at the Tomreik Hotel in East Legon Accra, when pageant host and former contestant Berla Mundi announced some 26 beautiful and intelligent girls for the next stage of the contest.

“We simply couldn’t cut to 20! It was too tough…we tried. Trust me, we tried our best, but the girls came well prepared too. Obviously they’ve followed the pageant for years and came for the kill,” – Jocelyn Dumas, Judge.

Joining actress Jocelyn Dumas on the judging panel that screened nearly 100 girls to determine which 26 made it to the next stage were fellow actresses and entrepreneurs, Jackie Appiah and Naa Ashorkor Mensah Doku.

Selecting the 26 was the continuation of a story that started on Saturday 13th July when actor James Gardiner joined Naa Ashorkor and Jocelyn to screen a little over 200 bold, confident and articulate young ladies who each wanted a shot at Pearl’s crown.

Some 70 plus ladies were selected then and taken through a beauty clinic with celebrated Events/TV and Radio host, Anita Erskine, host of Duvet on GHOne Mznancy and reigning queen, Miss Pearl Nyarko-Mensah.

The story continues at bootcamp where the final 26 will be further groomed and prepped for the task ahead. 10 will be dropped after that stage leaving a final 16 to battle for the cash, the car, the crown and that international trip that’s become an integral part of Miss Malaika Ghana.

Miss Malaika Ghana premiers on Sunday 19th August, 2018 at 8pm on GH One TV and at 8:30pm on Max TV. It will also show on Fridays at 7pm and on Tuesdays at 11:30am on TV7.