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Peter Matika, Senior Life Reporter
MRS Africa pageant has extended its platform to include Zimbabwean participants, as the search for a Mrs Zimbabwe begins.
The pageant is open to married women between the age of 25-50.
Mrs Africa was launched in South Africa in 2006 and has since its inception; been groomed into a prestigious pageant catering for married African women. Mrs Africa is also perceived as a woman empowering programme and not just a beauty pageant in the traditional sense of the word.
In a Press statement, licence holder and director of the Mrs Zimbabwe pageant, Patience Lusengo said the beauty industry was and is built on ageism and Mrs Zimbabwe would bring a refreshing space in which women can celebrate the spirit of the pageant.
“We’re obsessed with looking at women when they’re young, single and available. But society does its best to ignore older women, women with families, and women who are reaching the peak of their professional prowess. Mrs Zimbabwe wants to make women more visible when they’ve got life experience and something to say,” she said.
Lusengo mentioned that the pageant wasn’t a beauty contest but was about women, identifying and praising all their skills and accomplishments and recognising the fact that women can succeed in work, life and relationships.
“Mrs Africa world winners, finalists, entrants, are successful businesswomen, mothers and wives between the ages of 25 to 50. They are women who, are housewives, run their own businesses, are in a stable career environment and sometimes even hold very high positions in corporate companies.
“Mrs Africa Zimbabwe 2016 is looking to crown a Zimbabwean lady with beauty, intelligence and a purpose. The pageant has become the most prestigious, most looked forward to and respected pageant on calendars in most African countries and for the first time Zimbabwean women have a chance to enter the competition,” said Lusengo.
She added that Mrs Zimbabwe 2016 would compete against other African winners, in Johannesburg, in Mrs Africa and in the Mrs World 2017 pageant, with other winners worldwide.
“We therefore announce that those that would like to participate in the event should please send an email to [email protected],” said Lusengo Entries for those wishing to participate in the pageant closes on 31 March this year.
The aim of the Mrs Africa pageant is to create a platform by which the unique qualities of African women can be showcased and touch the world.Mrs Africa also advocates for and supports the development of women in Africa.
“Women in Africa have numerous challenges and sometimes need to survive in the most unimaginable situations. In post-war areas they are trapped in a world of abuse, rape, violence, poverty and no education. They have to provide for their children with no means or support and sometimes have to turn to prostitution and other vices like trafficking in order to survive.
“Domestic violence is rampant in Africa than anywhere else in the world due to that it cannot be separated from the following:
– Economic violence — deprivation of basic necessities, controlling earnings or forbidding employment.
– Socio-cultural violence — wife and property inheritance, early and child marriage, forced sexual exposure, dowry and bride price; female genital mutilation and the treatment of women as possessions.
– Sexual abuse — rape, marital rape and incest.
– Political and collective violence — war related rape and abuse, violence by law enforcement officials, state perpetrated violence including ethnic clashes, organised crime, banditry and abductions,” read part of the Mrs Africa mission statement.
Mrs Africa works in partnership with several women empowering organisations.
“Sometimes you cannot even give hope and we at Mrs Africa realise that you cannot help everywhere, but we are committed to give women in Africa their dignity back. We have partnered with Dignity Dreams, a non-profit organisation that distributes washable feminine sanitary wear to underprivileged girls and women. The manufacturing of these dignity packs also creates jobs. “The Mrs Africa Foundation is committed to support every country finalist, assisting them to get as many dignity packs distributed in their respective countries as possible,” read the statement.
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