adminMelissa Mpofu Showbiz Editor
WITH only a few weeks left before the 2nd edition of the Harare International Carnival kicks off, organisers have announced the names of some of the girls who will take part in the Carnival Queen Zimbabwe pageant.The pageant will see the crowning of the queen, who will otherwise represent the nation during the carnival as she will lead the 10-day fete.
Bulawayo will be represented at the pageant by Sibonginkosi Ncube, 18; Jessica Joubert, 17; Marizanne Murashiki, 20, and Bathabile Dlamini, 22, while Gweru will be represented by Chipo Dekeza, 20, Dione White, 21, Maita Kainga, 20. Mutare will send in Sibonginkosi Hove, 22, Tricia Dirwari, 19, Phalen Mapfurire, 23, while Masvingo will be repsented by Blessing Mukumene, 21; Heather Masimba, 22, and Chenai Chaendera, 18. The remaining provincial auditions will be held over the weekend.
The selected girls are already preparing for the show which will see them travelling to Harare on May 9 for their boot camp at the Rainbow Towers hotel. The Carnival Queen contest will once again be held at the Harare International Conference Centre at Rainbow Towers on May 16 with outgoing Carnival Queen Zimbabwe Dananai Chipunza expected to crown her successor.
The pageant will run under the theme “Celebrating the Beauty of our Diversity” which is in support of the 2014 Carnival theme “Celebrating our Diversity”.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authorty spokesperson Sugar Chagonda said this year’s Carnival Queen will receive a vehicle as part of her prizes.
“I can assure you that Carnival Queen Zimbabwe will drive away. She will receive a vehicle and money as part of her winning prizes just like Dananai did last year,” said Chagonda.
For winning, Chipunza drove off in a Mercedes Benz Compressor and walked away with a prize money of $20,000 among other prizes.
As part of her duties, the queen will lead the carnival street procession on May 24 and embark on a beauty with a purpose project.
Organisers seem to be quite strict on their selection as most of the models vying for the crown seem learned. Over the years, models have been labelled as beauties without brains as most of them usually contest with no O’levels — something which usually reflects during the question and answer segment.
“This year we tried by all means to be thorough on our selection process. We want a very sharp queen as Carnival Queen Zimbabwe pageant is a very big brand,” said Chagonda.
Bulawayo’s Ncube is pursuing a Bachelors in Environmental Science & Health degree at NUST while Joubert is corresponding AS (A ‘Level equivalent) with the British Council. Murashiki is awaiting enrolment at MSU where she wants to pursue Law studies while Dlamini is a 1st year Media & Journalism student at NUST.
Chagonda said they hoped to crown a girl like Chipunza as she was a very good ambassador.
“Dananai was a very good ambassador as she presented herself well during her reign. We hope that her successor will do better,” said Chagonda.
During her reign, 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 definitely on the next queen to emulate or surpass this feat.
Online Reporter