adminhandover ceremony.
They would be in boot camp for a week, during the participants would have an opportunity to network with some of the country’s top entrepreneurs, who will also share their success stories.
“The boot camp will give the models time to focus and to acclimatise with their expected new terrain.
“They will also have time to relax when they go for a trip to Nyanga,” a representative of the organisers said.
The spokesperson said security has been put in place to ensure that the models would not fall into the hands of “sexual predators” while in camp.
“We have heard in the past that models tend to be abused whilst in camp. In some pageants, some sneak in their boyfriends and we have put in place security to ensure that it won’t happen,” the spokesperson said.
This year’s winner will drive off in a car.
“Every contestant will walk away a winner because we have a sponsor who has chipped in with laptops, cellphones and other gadgets,” the spokesperson said.
Some of the finalists who spoke to Herald Entertainment said she was looking forward to the finals. Dephine Kuzvidza said even if she did not land the top prize, the
exposure she would get would be immeasurable.
“Being able to compete will open other doors for me even if I don’t clinch the big prize,” she said. Another finalist, Rumbidzai Ngwenya, said she was looking forward to her time in boot camp, an opportunity she hoped to use to network.
“I have set my prioritise right, I know what I want and other girls know why we are here and hopefully the boot camp will help us to remain focused,” she said.
The first edition of Miss Universities produced 2011 Miss Tourism Rumbidzai Mudzengerere and Miss Universe Zimbabwe Lisa Morgan.
The pageant was born out of the need to celebrate beauty with brains after the realisation that most models were failing to answer general questions about their country and natural resources. Miss Universities is the brainchild of Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner Oliver Chibage.
Last year, 21-year old Ntokozo Sithole scooped the coveted Miss Universities title in a fiercely contested pageant.
The vivacious UZ student walked away with prize money of up to US$2 000, a laptop and a full year’s tuition bursary courtesy of FBC Bank plus a scholarship from the Zimbabwe Institute of Management for an Executive Diploma.
Online Reporter