All set for Ms True African Queen

for Harare Province preliminaries.
Formerly called Miss Biggy Matofotofo, the re-branded pageant has since spread its wings to Malawi as well as Botswana.
Contestants are drawn from Harare and its satellite towns like Chitungwiza and Norton.
Lwazi Mbowa, the pageant organiser, said preparations were on course with exciting activities lined up.
“Dates for preliminaries in the rest of the provinces are also set, but at the moment we are focusing on Harare.
“All provinces are supposed to be done with the preliminaries by the end of August, paving way for the national finals scheduled for October 30,” said Mbowa.
“Registration for models to take part in the contest has already started and the contestants are already rehearsing. Auditions started on May 29 and will run until tomorrow.”
For one to qualify, she has to be a true African woman aged between 18 and 35 and should have fuller African figures.
Mbowa pointed out that they have discarded weight since as some big-looking ladies would weigh less than 85 kilogrammes while some not-so-big-looking ladies would have their weight complemented by their height and weigh above 85 kilogrammes.
Some critics slammed the beauty contest saying that it promoted gluttony and obesity among women.
However, Mbowa defended the pageant saying it was a platform to celebrate African beauty, which is usually defined by being big and curvy.
“The Miss True African Queen contest will contain an African flavour, that is why we chose Pamuzinda as the venue. Mbira music will be used for modelling and we will not include the nightwear attire, as it is a Western concept,” Mbowa said.
Prizes include sweeping brooms and goats, apart from a wide range of other prizes like cash, holiday packages and designer clothes.
Mbowa said the move explains why the contest was re-branded from Miss Biggy Matofotofo, a term which was derogatory.
“The pageant will be covering the Sadc region so we adopted a universal title, Miss True African Queen and one of our special guests is Mr Monti C. Tlagae from Botswana,” said Mbowa.
Current holder of the title is Thandazile Dube, while popular sele dancer Monica Chirasha is also a product of the same pageant.