malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Reporter
THE Miss Rural Zimbabwe beauty pageant is set to return after a nearly two-decade hiatus, with the relaunch scheduled for Harare next month.
The pageant, which seeks to empower and celebrate young rural Zimbabweans, is open to young women between the ages of 18 and 25. Miss Rural Zimbabwe also aims to elevate the position of rural girls and place them on an equal footing with their urban counterparts.
In a unique twist to this year’s edition, founder Ms Sipho Mazibuko announced that the pageant will for the first time open to male participants, who will compete for Mr Rural.
“After a long hiatus, Miss Rural Zimbabwe is coming back with her brother Mr Rural for inclusivity and gender equality,” she said.
“This is in line with the President’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
“The search for models in all the provinces has already started.
“We will be working with chiefs and their wives to authenticate the girls because we do not want fake rural girls to infiltrate the pageant.
“We want pure rural girls with a rural background.”
Ms Mazibuko said the contest will be an opportunity for extraordinary young women to showcase their unique qualities.
“As we go along, we are partnering with women who do African beauty ornaments.
“For Miss Rural, we do not allow the girls to have any Western artificial additives such as makeup, lashes and weaves.
“Their wardrobe will be wholly Zimbabwean and we are innovatively using the national dress fabric,” she said.
Online Reporter