Miss Queen Portugal

The winner of Miss Algarve 2024, Denise Nzang, talks to Tomorrow about beauty pageants and overcoming adversity.

MISS ALGARVE is the regional contest that elects the finalists from the Faro district for MISS QUEEN PORTUGAL and CNB (Concurso Nacional de Beleza) Portugal. It has been held since 2014. This year´s winner was 29-year-old Denise Nzang from Lagos.

Denise is Angolan but came to Portugal when she was 16 and has lived in Lagos for over ten years. “I came in search of my dream and to study. I left my whole family in Luanda. It was difficult because things didn’t go as I had planned. It was not easy, but I grew up alone and turned around my difficult situation.”

Denise’s struggles have inevitably led her to help others. She is now an educational action technician at CASLAS. “I love my job; it’s a huge privilege to educate the children who will be our future.”

Throughout the competition, the candidates take part in various tests and challenges. These include raising awareness of ecological projects such as #plantar1milhão, which aims to promote Portugal’s reforestation. Another challenge is celebrating Portuguese women #beyourself and promoting gender equality. Denise made an Instagram reel focusing on ‘freedom’ to raise awareness. This year’s theme was chosen to celebrate the 50th anniversary of 25 April. Denise says, “It is not enough for us to want a world with equal rights for women; we also need to ensure that they all have the same resources to achieve this goal.”

In addition to the proposed challenges, participants are evaluated throughout the day of the contest and by their performance in the parades: casual, short dress and gala. On the day, Denise said she had maintained a positive mental attitude. “I thought I had to do my best so that my loved ones would be proud of the woman I’ve become, persistent and more mature.”

So why, in 2024, would a young woman choose to take part in a beauty pageant? “I decided to take part in the contest because it was a goal I had to fulfil in my life. I left Angola on my own, with a dream in my heart and a lot of willpower to live in another, completely different, country. I was searching for the dream that I believed would one day change my life. I have suffered depression, anxiety attacks and bullying. But the contests were my salvation.”

It took Denise three years to achieve her dream, and she needed a great deal of tenacity to overcome rejection. In her first competition in 2022, she achieved second place. In the second competition, she didn’t win recognition. But she felt this was her year: “Rather than winning the crown and sash, my greatest trophy was the faith I’ve gained over the years in believing that one day my turn would come. I waited, worked, perfected myself and finally, the longed-for title of Miss Algarve arrived.”

Some people say that beauty contests are sexist and objectify women. Does she agree? “No, I don’t. I remember that in the past, beauty contests were only open to women with a certain standard of beauty. The competition did not accept women with children, [or those who were] married, widowed or divorced – that is now not the case.” This evolution is fortunate for Denise, who is also a mother to 8-year-old Laura and a wife.

“I believe that we women are going to make this a better, more united world … with less judgement and more support, we need to work together to build the world we all dream of, with more empathy, solidarity and mutual help.”

What would Denise like to achieve with the title of Miss Algarve? “I would like to inspire more women to believe in their dreams and never give up on what they believe in, regardless of the obstacles that cross our paths – we women represent strength! We can be anything we want to be!”

The winner of Miss Portugal will go on to enter the most prestigious international beauty contests. Winning Miss Algarve automatically qualifies Denise to participate in the national phase and final gala next year. “I am eager to do my best.”

After she has lived this dream, she intends to expand her education further. “I did not go to university, but I intend to take the course of social worker. I have a beautiful daughter, who makes me get up every day to be better than yesterday. I want her to have her mother as inspiration.”

There is no doubt that Denise’s journey from Angola to pursue her education, and ultimately become Miss Algarve, is inspirational. She has undoubtedly made her family and Lagos proud.