adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
BULAWAYO beauty Tanaka Manyuzu says she is optimistic that she will win the $8,000 prize money in the Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe (Bofoz) competition. The 21-year-old University of Zimbabwe Bachelor of Arts student is confident that come July 25, she will land the prize because of the support she got during the initial rounds of voting.
With no modelling background whatsoever, Manyuzu said she entered the Bofoz competition as she liked the idea of being the cosmetic range’s brand ambassador.
To enter the competition, Manyuzu purchased Black Opal products worth $30 and had to rely on votes to make it to the finals.
She managed to garner enough votes and is now part of 16 ladies who were unveiled this week as Bofoz 2015 finalists.
They will strut their stuff on the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) ramp where the first runner up will receive $4,000 while the second runner up will pocket $2,000 with others receiving consolation prizes.
“I’m optimistic that I’ll win the money as I’m confident that the people who voted for me during the preliminary stages will rally behind me at the finals,” Manyuzu said.
She is now preparing for the finale where she will take to the ramp for the first time as she had never entered any modelling contest before and participated in this one for fun.
“I’ve never entered a modelling competition and just entered this one because I’d bought Black Opal beauty cosmetics in Harare and filled the Bofoz entry form.
“I was surprised when I learnt that I’d been chosen for the Face of Zimbabwe competition and even more surprised that people voted for me,” she said.
On the day of the finale, 50 percent of her marks will be drawn from the judges while the other 50 percent will once again come from the public who will start voting through SMS next week Saturday.
If she wins, the UZ student will use the Bofoz prize money to pay for her tuition.
“I’ll use the prize money to further my education and also help my mother. She’s a single mother who raised me to be the woman that I’m today.”
Having grown up in Bulawayo’s Morningside suburb and learnt at Northlea High School, Manyuzu said it was important for women to wear make-up that suits their skin tone.
“Women should feel comfortable in their skin because if you look good you feel good.
“Every woman should embrace their beauty and wearing make up is a way of doing that,” she said.
“Every woman should have a makeup bag with lip gloss, face powder, foundation, concealer and eye shadow.”
Unlike other beauty pageants, the Bofoz pageant accommodates married, curvy, tall and short participants as the organisers mainly concentrate on the face and contestants’ knowledge of Black Opal products.
Last year designer Tendai Farai was crowned Face of Zimbabwe ahead of 15 other contestants.
Online Reporter