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Melissa Mpofu Showbiz Editor
DATES for the Carnival Queen Zimbabwe regional castings have been announced with the contest slated for May 16 in Harare.
As preparations for the second edition of the Harare International Carnival which runs from May 16 to 25 gain momentum — battle lines will soon be drawn among Zimbabwe’s beauties as they compete to take over the Carnival Queen Zimbabwe title from the current holder, 21-year-old Dananai Chipunza.
The castings will kick off in Gweru and Mutare tomorrow at the ZTA offices. Masvingo and Bulawayo will follow with castings on Sunday at the ZTA offices. Beitbridge and Victoria Falls castings will be held on March 25 at ZTA offices. March 29 will see carnival queen castings in Chinhoyi at the Chinhoyi Universtiy of Technology and Bindura at the Bindura University of Science Education. Harare auditions have been scheduled for April 5 at the ZTA offices.
The girl who will be crowned queen will lead the Harare International Carnival Street Party on May 24.
Organisers of the event, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), said those interested in contesting should be between 18 and 23 years of age, possess at least 5 O-Levels, be at least 1,72m tall and should never have been married, given birth or been pregnant before. The contestants must be Zimbabweans or possess any Zimbabwean identity document regardless of their race.
The beauty pageant will once again run under the theme “Celebrating the Beauty of our Diversity” which is in support of the 2014 Carnival theme “Celebrating our Diversity”.
ZTA spokesperson, Sugar Chagonda, said the pageant would be a platform for people to appreciate a diverse knowledge of Zimbabwe’s heritage, culture, tourism and all spheres of human existence.
“We are calling upon intelligent and top models of character to participate in the auditions. Carnival Queen is not just another pageant, but it is a platform for selecting talent and beauty that will represent the country not only as a tourism ambassador but in all spheres.
“As such, the auditions are meant to identify the best from all provinces as we are looking for someone with the ability to assume an ambassadorial role for brand Zimbabwe.”
Chagonda added that the criteria by which finalists would be selected will abide by international standards as the overall winner will represent the country at an international pageant.
Last year, Chipunza raised the country’s flag high at the Miss International finals held in Malaysia where she made it into the top 10, was Miss Talent 2nd runner-up and was appointed brand ambassador for Asian Metropolitan University in Southern Africa. Having set this laudable record, the pressure is on the next queen to emulate or surpass this feat.
For being crowned Carnival Queen Zimbabwe, Chipunza walked away with a vehicle and $20,000 as part of her prizes. This year’s prizes for the queen have not been announced.
Online Reporter