BY NADIA NTIAMOAH
Jasmine Djang, the 2020 Miss Malaika Ghana queen and girlfriend of Sharaf Mahama, son of President John Dramani Mahama, is returning to the beauty pageant that helped establish her public profile, but this time she will not be competing for the crown.
Djang has been named a judge for the 2026 edition of the Miss Malaika Ghana pageant, marking a significant transition from former titleholder to a member of the panel responsible for evaluating this year’s contestants.
Her appointment was announced through a promotional video shared on Instagram ahead of the 2026 competition, which is being held under the theme “The Aura Season.”
In the short video, Djang, introduced as a former Miss Malaika queen, was seen stepping out of a car along a tree-lined driveway in a garden-style setting in Accra before addressing prospective contestants and pageant followers.
Rather than focusing solely on physical beauty, Djang emphasised qualities such as personality, confidence, presence and self-assurance—attributes that align with the pageant’s theme for this year’s edition.
Her return to the competition in a judging capacity represents a new chapter in her relationship with the Miss Malaika brand. Having experienced the competition herself and emerged as its 2020 queen, she now returns with the responsibility of assessing a new generation of contestants.
From Beauty Queen to Businesswoman
Since winning the Miss Malaika crown in 2020, Djang has continued to build a profile beyond pageantry.
She is the Chief Executive Officer of Denmarja Home Care and the founder of The Jasmine Foundation, an organisation described as focusing on empowering women, inspiring leaders and creating social impact.
Her post-pageant career has also earned her recognition in Ghana’s business and lifestyle circles. In 2024, she was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Women’s Choice Awards Africa.
These ventures have gradually expanded her public identity from beauty queen to entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Her Relationship With Sharaf Mahama
Djang’s public profile has also grown because of her relationship with Sharaf Mahama, the son of President Mahama.
The relationship has attracted considerable interest from the Ghanaian public, particularly because of Sharaf’s position as a member of Ghana’s First Family.
However, Djang’s latest appointment places the spotlight on her individual achievements and her connection to the pageant industry, rather than solely on her relationship.
Her return as a judge also comes at a time when she has maintained visibility through her business activities, social initiatives and public engagements.
A Different Role at Miss Malaika
Djang’s journey from contestant to queen and now judge reflects the different stages of a beauty pageant career.
In 2020, she competed for the crown. Six years later, she is returning to the same platform from the other side of the judging table, where her experience as a former winner could give her insight into the pressures, expectations and challenges faced by the contestants.
The 2026 edition, branded “The Aura Season,” seeks to place greater emphasis on the qualities contestants project beyond physical appearance.
