Byo teen wins Elite Model contest

Zimbabwe Malaika Mushandu.
She will now represent Zimbabwe at the Elite Model Look International finals slated for December 1 in China.
According to the organisers, Muvuti will leaves on November 28 on an all- expenses paid trip to the 29th Elite Model Look World finals.
She will compete against over 90 finalists from more than 70 countries.
The inaugural pageant saw fashionistas from Harare and South Africa converging for an entertaining evening of glitz and glamour.
There were oohs and aahs in the audience throughout the show as the models appeared in breathtaking designer garments.
Among the dignitaries who graced the event were Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi’s wife Paula, former top male model Jonathan Denga among others.
There were dazzling performances by Ammara Brown and hip-hop dance group High Definition.
In an interview, the 19-year-old  Muvuti said she was overwhelmed by  winning the coveted title, considered to be one of the the country’s most prestigious modelling contests.
“I am overwhelmed by landing the title Miss Elite Model Look Zimbabwe,”said Muvuti.
“I put my best effort and I believe God has rewarded me for my hard work. It is was my first time to enter an internationally recognised contest and I still can’t believe that I am the winner.”
Asked what her immediate plans were, seeing that she was up for a jet setting modelling contract with one of the big names in fashion — Elite Model — Muvuti said she was aiming to raise the Zimbabwean flag high on the international catwalk.
“My dream for now is to raise my country’s flag high and win in China,” she enthused.
Janice Costa, the executive director of Elite Model Look Zimbabwe, said the country has a lot of talented girls who can offer the modelling industry diversity and distinctiveness.
“I am motivated today that a teenager (Fadzai) has won the event and is going to represent Zimbabwe in China. This is just the beginning for her as we are going to develop her for the international platform,” said Costa.
She said Muvuti will spend 10 days in China before the finals with the top three winners signing contracts worth US$420 000 awarded by the Elite Model Management.
Elite Model Look was launched in 1983 by Elite Model Management of Paris.
The contest is the premier source for discovering fresh new faces each year, with over 350 000 contestants in more than 70 countries.
The contest helped launch the careers of some of the most famous names and faces in fashion and entertainment including our own Nyasha Matonhodze, who is now based in the United Kingdom.
Matonhodze’s runaway success since signing up with Elite Model convinced the agency to include Zimbabwe in its annual worldwide search for supermodels of the future.
Gisèlle Bündchen, Alessandra Ambrosio, Tyra Banks, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Diane Kruger, Naomi Campbell and Stephanie Seymour are among the most famous names in fashion and entertainment to emerge courtesy of Elite Model.