Lorraine Tsoanelo Maphala-Phiri (born 1984) is a Zimbabwean beauty queen and entrepreneur. In 2005, she was crowned Miss Zimbabwe, becoming an instant celebrity in a country where pageant winners become household names. She later started a hair extension and beauty business.
Maphala grew up in humble beginnings in Bulawayo's Nketa 6 neighborhood. [1] [2] Maphala first entered a beauty contest as a teenager in 2002, participating in Miss Bulawayo. [3] Later that year, she won her first pageant, Miss Summer Strides. [4] In 2005, she was crowned Miss Zimbabwe. [3] [5] After her reign as Miss Zimbabwe, she was crowned Miss Tourism Zimbabwe. [6] Beauty pageants are incredibly popular in Zimbabwe. [7] Maphala's pageant wins came at the height of pageantry in Zimbabwe, where winners would go on to become household names and recognizable celebrities. [8] [9] After becoming Miss Zimbabwe, Maphala became known across the country, as media would take a considerable interest in her private life. [10] [11]
After winning her first pageant title, Maphala started a fashion business, but it quickly failed as she claimed she did not have enough experience in business. [4] The experience did not discourage her, instead she drew on her poor upbringing to drive her to try again. [12] In 2007, Maphala started her hair extensions business, Real Hair by Lorraine. [13] Two years later, the business had failed due to a lack of investment. Maphala took a job at a finance company, quickly developing skills that she could use to restart her business. After saving starting capital and selling her car, Maphala relaunched Real Hair by Lorraine. [4] This time, the business quickly grew. In 2016, Maphala opened Real Beauty by Lorraine, a hair studio focused on natural hair care products. [14] [15] [16]
In 2011, Maphala privately married Bulawayo businessman Sonny Phiri. [17] The pair would have a public wedding in 2013. [18] [19] The pair met in 2008, and it was his finance company that gave Maphala the job that she credited with cultivating her business skills. [18] In 2020, the couple welcomed their third child. [20]
During the COVID-19 lockdowns in Zimbabwe, Maphala-Phiri and her husband hosted an online talk show discussing marriage and faith that went viral in the country, due to Sonny Phiri's highly publicized infidelity. [21] [22]
In 2023, the Bulawayo Model Awards named honored Maphala by renaming their Pageant Model of the Year award after her. [23]