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Although she is just a month old as Miss Zimbabwe, the beauty queen has managed to keep a low profile and walks all over the city without drawing much attention from passers-by.
Dhlakama, a devout Christian who others have labelled as “too much of a church mouse to be Miss Bulawayo”, is a very quiet and humble lady who is a fashionista who dresses decently and does not draw attention from passers-by unlike other models in the past.
The towering Dhlakama, who is yet to receive her prizes from the beleaguered Miss Zim Trust, has not changed her routine from the past before she was crowned Miss Zimbabwe.
The first time contender in the pageant, Dhlakama managed to outclass 28 other finalists to get the coveted crown, in the process bringing the crown back to the City of Kings where the majority of the former Miss Zimbabwe beauties hail from.
Dhlakama, a Zimbabwe Tourism Authority employee, is not moved by the fact that she would not be getting a car like her predecessors but remains optimistic that she can still be a beauty queen and take charge of her duties freely even without a vehicle.
Speaking to Saturday Leisure Dhlakama said she got into the pageant fully aware that there was no car as part of her package.
“I am still using public transport like before and I do not have a problem with that.
“I got into the competition knowing that there was no car for me, but it is always nicer to have a Miss Zimbabwe queen who is driving,” said Dhlakama.
She said she sometimes goes unnoticed in the city or even in the commuter omnibuses.
“Some obviously recognise me, but the majority of the people do not know me.
“After I am done with my Miss World preparations, I will become more active in my community projects both as Miss Bulawayo and Miss Zimbabwe so I guess that will make me more visible in the city,” she said.
Dhlakama, who hails from the same neighbourhood with former Miss Zimbabwe 2006, Lorraine Maphala, said her community was happy for her and treated her with respect.
“My community is very happy for me because I am the second Miss Zimbabwe to emerge from Nketa 6 suburb after Lorraine Maphala and they have something to cheer and be proud of,” said the executive assistant.
The patron of the Miss Zim Trust, Kiki Divaris, said her organisation was still sorting out the issue of prizes for the winners.
It was through ZTA that models were awarded with luxury vehicles
“We will get back to you as soon as we get the prizes; we are still in the process of putting them up together.
“This year, we made it clear that we are not giving away cars as prizes but in case we get a sponsor from the corporate sector we can then give her,” said Gogo Divaris as she is affectionately known in the modelling industry.
The tourism mother body, ZTA, which has been running the pageant raised the standards of the pageant to that of other countries with models walking away with meaningful prizes and opportunities.
The previous queens have had the pleasure of driving in facility cars and Miss Zimbabwe 2011 Malaika Mushandu won a BMW 3 series, among a host of other prizes.
Meanwhile, Dhlakama will from next week intensify preparations for the Miss World finals set for China in August.
As part of the preparations, she will move to the capital Harare where she will be under the tutelage of former model Paxina Kalulu who is also a board member of the Miss Zim Trust and Divaris whose career in the modelling industry spans more than two decades.
Due to the late hosting of the Miss Zimbabwe pageant, the beauty has only two months to prepare for the world’s glamorous cat walk competition
Moreover, her employer, ZTA, has pledged to support all her programmes throughout her reign as Miss Zimbabwe.
Dhlakama, who is also a part-time student with the Midlands State University, will be embarking on a cervical cancer awareness programme as part of her project for the Miss World finals.
Last year, the country was represented by Malaika Mushandu who did extremely well by finishing in the top 15 of the pageant which some have labelled as a competition for European contestants.
Reigning Miss World Ivian Sarcos from Venezuela is set to crown her successor at the Miss World Finals slated for Ordos, China, on 8 August.
Online Reporter