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Arts Correspondent
It’s a month before the nation embraces a new beauty queen.
Organisers for the much-awaited Miss Universe Zimbabwe (MUZ) have said the voting process for the top 12 models begins next week.
The team has already done the auditions in all provinces and has selected 30 contestants who will then go for the voting ahead of the pageant.
The pageant is scheduled for September 16 at a location to be announced soon, including the hosts of the show.
In an interview with The Herald Arts, MUZ chief marketing and information officer, Tamia Chawaguta, said preparations were at an advanced stage, with the voting platform being opened next week.
“We are glad that we have finished the auditions in all provinces and we are happy with the outcome so far,” she said. “We had a huge turnout, but chose to work with 30 girls. The 30 will be revealed next week where they are voted for the top spot for the top 12. The winners from the top 12 will then have an opportunity to walk on the ramp on the finale.”
Chawaguta said voting will be on the MUZ website and instructions will be on the platform.
“The voting begins on August 19 to 31 and it will be on our platforms. The good thing is that there is a representative from all provinces in the top 30,” she said.
Chawaguta, who is also a model, said the pageant was taking a right and different direction as it was accommodating all girls.
“For the first time we have welcomed women under the age of 28 who are pregnant, married, or have kids in all the country’s 10 provinces,” she said.
“As the organisation, we have realised that Zimbabwe was not being given a fair chance to participate on the Miss Universe global platform which claims to be an inclusive stage for the modelling and beauty industry.
“Miss Universe has re-branded. Traditionally, if you had to walk on the Miss Universe stage, you had to have a particular height and weight. You were not allowed to have a child or to have been married, but with the recent developments, you are allowed to join Miss Universe no matter how short or tall you are.”
Chawaguta said they had also announced the face of the pageant who happens to be Liane Nyamarebvu.
She said the Miss Universe is now a business that is driving a particular notion of women empowerment.
“A lot of developments are unfolding and each day we will be releasing the information on our social media page as updates.”
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