admin
Rumbidzai Mbewe, Sunday Leisure Correspondent
HER break into the limelight was not a joy ride, it was a journey filled with negative energy coming from all corners. She was told that she was not beautiful and she was mocked for her makeup during the Miss World pageant. Any other girl could have thrown in the towel, but not Former Miss Zimbabwe, Bongani Tendai Hunda.
She refused to crumble and her fortitude in the face of adversity has finally paid off as Bongani was crowned Miss International Africa in Germany at the recently held Miss International pageant. She was also voted Miss International fourth runner-up.
Unlike in previous competitions in which she choked because of poor preparations, Bongani let slip to Sunday Leisure that she left no stone unturned when she took aim at the Miss International title.
“The name Tendai Hunda was remembered for all the negative outcomes at Miss World which were truly beyond my control.
I was only a victim of circumstances so the Germany experience gave me an opportunity to rebrand. I got in the competition geared to win and that’s what I did,” she said.
Bongani said she also entered the competition to make Zimbabwe proud.
“I am very proud to be the one bringing back Zimbabwe on the winning map of international pageantry. Besides that I had the opportunity to sell my nation’s diverse culture and tourism just to mention a few things,” she said.
Her stay in Germany gave her the chance to mingle with ladies from 70 different countries. She says she got on well with most of the girls and minded her own business as her goal was to win the competition.
“The boot camp went well with barely any challenges. Staying with girls from all over the world, contesting for one title felt normal as I always minded my own business and played my own game. I got on well with most girls and even as the days drew nearer and competition heightened it all just felt normal,” said Bongani.
Besides the good news of being crowned Miss International Africa, Bongani recently graduated with an Honours Degree in Administration at the University of Zimbabwe. In her view, her achievement rubbishes the perception that beauty rarely goes with brains.
“Its high time people regarded models as people who think and use their brains to get to the top and not their beauty,” she said.
Besides being a model and a recent graduate, Bongani is a diverse character. During her spare time she takes part in a number of sporting activities. She is also a songbird who writes and sings her own songs.
“In a few words I am a spirited model who is a fighter and a goal getter,” she said,
Online Reporter