Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube [email protected]
FOR Patience Phiri, being crowned Miss Teen of the Universe Zimbabwe is more than just a title, it reflects her journey of resilience, self-discovery and growth.
An O-level student, Phiri has emerged as one of the country’s promising young pageant queens, but her story begins far from the spotlight, in classrooms where confidence was hard to come by. She traces her modelling journey back to Grade Four at Comet Primary School in Boksburg, South Africa, where she first experienced the power of the stage.
“I started modelling when I was in Grade Four at Comet Primary School in Boksburg, South Africa.
Even at that young age, I remember how being on stage made me feel seen and confident,” she said.
But behind that early spark was a difficult reality.
“I was bullied a lot when I was in my primary level and it really affected me. But being on stage changed everything for me because that’s the one place where I could regain my confidence, learn to speak out for myself, and truly stand up for who I am,” she said.
In many ways, modelling became her refuge, a space where she could rebuild what had been eroded.
“When I was on stage, I felt like I had a voice, as I could finally express myself without fear and that’s something that helped me grow stronger,” she explained.
Her return to Zimbabwe for high school marked another turning point. The transition was not easy, and for a time, she withdrew.
“When we moved back to Zimbabwe for my high school, starting from Form One, I didn’t do any activities or participate in anything because I was still trying to adjust and understand my new environment. I was just trying to fit in and find my place again, so I stayed away from everything at first,” she said.
It was only in Form 2 that she found her way back to the stage and to herself.
“I resumed modelling in Form 2 at Concepts Learning Academy, and that moment meant a lot to me because it felt like I was finding myself again and I was crowned Miss Personality,” she said.
That moment reignited her ambition. What followed was a rise through school and local pageants, each title reinforcing her belief in her abilities.
“When I was in Form 3, I decided to challenge myself more by contesting in Miss Mziba, and I was crowned the queen. That was a proud moment for me and in that same year, I was also crowned Miss Concepts at the school I was attending,” she said.
She continued to push herself onto bigger platforms.
“The following year, I contested in Miss 2K Bulawayo and being crowned First Princess showed me that I was growing and improving with every competition,” she said.
Now preparing for her O-Level examinations, Phiri continues to balance academics and modelling, building on her growing list of achievements.
“This year, I was crowned Miss Valentine at Palmer Institute, which is where I am doing my O-Level and that was another special moment for me,” she said.
Her breakthrough came when she won Miss Teen of the Universe Zimbabwe, a moment she says was emotional.
“Being crowned Miss Teen of the Universe of Zimbabwe was a dream come true for me because it showed me how far I’ve come from where I started,” she said.
Looking back, Phiri sees her journey as one defined not by obstacles, but by how she responded to them.
“I’ve grown so much through this journey. Everything I went through helped shape me into the person I am today.”
