adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
A five-member contingent from Fingers Modelling Agency will travel this week to Botswana for that country’s leg of the inaugural Miss Africa pageant that will be held in Gaborone on Saturday.
Fingers Modelling Agency was awarded the licence to hold the Zimbabwean leg to choose a representative for the continental showcase pencilled for mid next year.
South African television presenter, Bonang Matheba has been billed to host the first ever continental pageant at Gaborone International Convention Centre.
Miss Africa is the brainchild of Bruce Nkgakile who is the chief executive officer of the pageant and former Miss Botswana Boingotlo Motlalekgosi.
The modelling agency’s head Sarah Mpofu-Sibanda said they would travel to Botswana on Wednesday.
“We shall meet on Monday(today) to discuss the logistics of our trip. We hope to leave the country on Wednesday,” said Mpofu-Sibanda.
Those travelling are Mpofu-Sibanda, Nokuthaba Manhungo, former Miss Bulawayo Sizi Mpala, former Mr Bulawayo Elvis Sibanda and Talent Mpofu.
Mpofu-Sibanda said they would start scouting for a Zimbabwe representative when they return from Botswana.
“We want to learn one or two things during our stay there so that when we return we set the ball rolling and start organising the local pageant. We want to hold auditions for provincial pageants before the end of the year,” said Mpofu-Sibanda.
Nkgakile said the pageant was a celebration of the African beauty.
“Our aim is to use Miss Africa to rebrand the continent and also celebrate the immense culture that it has. Many think that Africa is riddled with war and famine, but there are many things to celebrate on the continent,” said Nkgakile.
He said as part of being African the bikini wear category would be scrapped and replaced by a traditional wear.
“The bikini wear is not part of the Miss Africa pageant. It’ll be replaced by traditional dress category. The models will wear their traditional garments to showcase the diversity that Africa has,” said Nkgakile.
The competition is open to women aged between 18 and 27 years, who are 1.65M in height and those who have children can enter unlike in other pageants.
Online Reporter