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Langalakhe Mabena
Sipho Mazibuko knows what it’s like to have a crown on her head and hold the winner’s bouquet of flowers. She has been crowned a Queen in over 13 pageants, including Miss Highlanders.
With over 30 years of experience in the modelling industry, as a model, instructor and pageant licence holder, NaZoe, as she is affectionately known, has always stood out in everything she does.
Strong-willed, she has made excellency her hallmark and seems to always know how to make the most of any situation.
Mazibuko, it turns out, also knows when to take a bow and retire.
“At the recently held Bulawayo Models Awards, I was honoured with a Modelling Legend/Guru award. That was my cue to hang up my stilettos. When they start calling you a legend, retire and give the younger ones a chance to shine,” she said.
Mazibuko, who is the oldest living former modelling agency owner besides Australia-based Sarah Mpofu of Fingers, is still available as a consultant and a patron in the Zimbabwean modelling industry.
She will be working closely with young modelling agency owners like Philip Masuku, who will be helping in nurturing young competitive models like himself.
“I stood down from active grooming and instructing because the students that I groomed over the years are now grown up and have opened their own modelling agencies
“I can’t be seen to be competing with my own former students. It is my responsibility that I should mentor and give young players a chance to build their own hustles. I am allowing the youngsters to own the space,” she said.
Mazibuko said for them to survive in the tough industry, young model agencies must have the hunger and zeal that will make their pageants the most sought after in the country.
Mazibuko challenged young agency owners to come up with their own home grown pageants, like what she did with her Miss Rural, Miss Summer Strides, Mr Strides as well as Miss Winter Strides.
“The obstacle that we have is that the current young crop of agencies merely want to grow and glorify pageants from other countries.
“They’re actually competing to buy licences of foreign-owned pageants that they can’t even afford to pay for. After the winners are chosen, sometimes under dubious conditions, they fail to secure funding to send the winners overseas to participate at these pageants which bring no value to Zimbabwe.
“I challenge them to embrace Zimbabwean tourism and culture by innovating our own Zimbabwe-born pageants that can align with the Zim Bhoo #Uripi/Ungaphi programmes affiliated with Zimbabwe Tourism Authority,” said Mazibuko.
Online Reporter