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Entertainment Editor
Reigning Miss Universe Zimbabwe, Sakhile Dube has encouraged the nation to continue voting for her ahead of the Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico.
Dube, who left the country on Monday, will join other contestants from different countries in boot-camp today.
The 73rd Miss Universe pageant, will be held in the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico, on November 16.
Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua will crown her successor at the end of the event.
Speaking at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport before departure, Dube said she was happy to represent the country and hopes to bring the crown home.
“The journey has started and I will be in Mexico on Wednesday for boot-camp,” she said.
“I am encouraging every Zimbabwean to vote for me daily on the Miss Universe website as that counts. The first votes are free. I promise to deliver my best and I cannot wait to show you what I have prepared at the pageant.”
The 28-year-old beauty queen did not shed light on some of the designers who prepared her dresses.
Dube was accompanied by Miss Universe Zimbabwe second runner-up Ruvimbo Njomboro, who had a huge wrapped box, and could not be drawn into revealing what was inside.
However, close sources revealed that it was her national costume.
Miss Universe Zimbabwe national director Tendai Hunda was optimistic that Dube will bring the crown.
“I am very hopeful and positive that the 2024 crown is coming to Zimbabwe.”
“We have had the most successful preparations for Dube. It has been vigorous and thorough because we feel this has been the closest to the Miss Universe crown. We have been in the history of pageantry in Zimbabwe, basing on Dube’s background,” she said.
Dube is not new to the international stage and that itself is a positive for the country as she knows all the necessary requirements.
“Dube is well trained and groomed. In terms of her walk, she was coached in France, she also did question and answer therapy with some reputable lifestyle and speech coach. She is well articulated and is now a force to reckon when it comes to presentation.”
Hunda thanked all the designers who supported Dube from preliminaries to national dress designs.
“We are going to shock the world with what we have presented so far and let us keep our fingers crossed on Dube. We should also vote everyday so that she makes it in top 30, top 12 if not top 3 and bring the crown home,” she said.
Commenting on some of the media stories circulating about Dube being denied a visa, Hunda said the story came as shock to the organisation but they chose to focus on the bigger picture.
“Dube has never applied for United States visa and what surprised us was that she is a student based in Italy, so automatically qualifies to go to Mexico because you only need a Schengen visa to be in Mexico,” she said.
“We chose to be focused as we were busy preparing.
“I only urge the media to verify their facts before publishing because we might damage the brand and it is not necessary.”
This year’s Miss Universe pageant’s semi-finalist count will be increased to 30, the highest number in the pageant’s history.
The preliminary competition, consisting of the swimsuit and evening gown segments, as well as closed-door interviews, will determine the semi-finalists for the pageant.
Online Reporter