Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
THE stage has been set for this year’s Miss Bodylicious Zimbabwe slated for King Solomon’s Hotel in Kwekwe on October 1.
The pageant, which is fast gaining prominence in the Zimbabwe modelling arena for its unique celebration of full-figured women, will see 13 contestants from across the country taking to the ramp for the coveted crown.
The unique beauty pageant for big-bodied women is aimed at redefining the concept of beauty, at least from an African perspective. It is a brainchild of Dr Solomon Matsa, who has a sprawling business empire across the Sadc region.
“The idea came up due to the gap we saw with previous pageants which didn’t celebrate “real African assets,” brains, and beauty of our great African women. As Africans, we have our own perceptions of beauty and character which the Western world doesn’t seem to embrace, thus as independent people, it’s about time we also celebrate our true selves,” he said.
Matsa said women should be comfortable and confident with their bodies and should never starve themselves in the quest to look beautiful.
“This contest, or pageant, is there to promote comfort and love for thyself, of our African women, and make them understand that we appreciate them in their full Africaness. Our daughters must never starve themselves in the quest to look beautiful, it’s very unAfrican,” he said.
The pageant’s marketing executive, Ricky Dabvu said preparations for the event are going on well.
“We’re looking forward to hosting 13 contestants at a well-organised show as compared to yesteryears. We managed to do two preliminaries, that is for the southern and northern parts of Zimbabwe, making it well polished in terms of finalists in the final,” said Dabvu.
Online Reporter