Online Reporter
Latwell Nyangu
Zimpapers Arts, Entertainment Hub
BEAUTY queen Pauline Marere says she intends to open a styling company, focusing on top local celebrities and models as they represent the country.
She said modelling and fashion were intertwined and inseparable hence for one to be presentable, he or she needed a stylist.
Marere, who is on her way back home from Poland where she was competing at the recently held Miss Supranational pageant, said the global platform opened her eyes to focus on fashion. Despite failing to make it into the top 24 like her predecessor Sakhile Dube (Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2024), Marere stood out during the competition, with her fashion sense as she brought her A-game each day.
The talented model said she will use her experience to start new projects.
“I am going to launch a company that focuses on styling people from different pageants, especially girls who will be representing Zimbabwe internationally,” she said.
“I am going to be a professional stylist for everyone who will be representing the country. I am also going to open an academy that will be connected to my stylish company, where we will be offering etiquette to models and commercial individuals.
“At the company I will also be training catwalk for models at professional level of modelling.”
She said that she managed to establish many contacts across the globe.
“It was amazing and different. It was another level of meeting different models from different countries, networking, learning and growing.
“I felt honoured to represent my country at such a global stage. My experience was very amazing and of course my fashion trend was the centre of attraction.”
Prior to the pageant, Marere told this publication that she will call it quits and more energy will be channelled to her academy.
“I am going to continue pursuing international pageants, since I have realised that if you attend these pageants, you can open more doors.
“I have created some networks with models from different countries like China and Hong Kong and I will be travelling to China in December for business.
“My main issue at this showcase was to create networks.”
She also called for more support from stakeholders.
“I want to credit my country and individuals for supporting our girls. But we really need to be like Zambians who supported their own like they depend on her. This is the support we want going forward.
“Pageants are always about numbers,” she added.
For Pauline, the Miss Supranational 16th edition contest came as a huge experience among other top global pageants.
She went to Poland high on confidence, but the script didn’t end in her favour.
She couldn’t make it into the top 24, which is regarded as one of the crucial stages.
But she doesn’t regret her participation as being part of the competition was the best connection in her career.
Eduarda Braum of Brazil, was crowned the queen after outwitting over 60 other delegates.
She inherited the title from Indonesian beauty Harashta Haifa Zahra.
Four more ladies joined her in the final round of the competition, each earning runner-up honours.
Filipino-German Anna Lakrini, who represented Germany, settled for the first runner-up spot, while Quishantely Leito of Curaçao finished as second runner-up.
Tarah Valencia of the Philippines was proclaimed third runner-up, while Valerie Klepadlo of Puerto Rico rounded up the winners’ circle as fourth runner-up.
Despite Marere making it into the top three of the Suprachat, prior to the grand finale, she couldn’t make it. Zimbabwe managed to be in the top 6 of the final round out of 65 countries in the public speaking competition.
She was the Suprachat top 20 influencer winner. She also hailed her sponsors.
“To my sponsors who made this journey possible, I am really grateful. The Herentials Group of Schools, through the CEO thank you for believing in me from the national level until the international world finals.
“To Betterbrands thank you for always showing up and making sure I am at my best all the time. To my favourite Zambian Kasuli NaMakau Nawa congratulations and as your mukulu wako I am super proud of you and I am happy our mother, Ms Alice Rowlands Musukwa, has started a fundraising for your new wheels so that you can drive in style.
“On behalf of Miss Supranational Zimbabwe organisation and the entire Zimbabwean family, we will contribute K10 000 to your car.
“I have received a lot of support from Zambians during this entire journey and they supported me just like they did to you so this is my little appreciation to your people.
“To my national director thank you mom for everything you are simply the best I love you so much and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us,” said Marere.
To her credit, Pauline, has bagged the Miss Pan African Queen title in 2019 and was the second runner-up at the Miss Environment International in 2023, Miss Africa among others.
Peter Tanyanyiwa