adminShowbiz Reporter
2012 Miss Zimbabwe-USA, Vanessa Mbedzi, together with four other models were yesterday selected to represent Matabeleland South in the Miss World Zimbabwe contest taking place in April.The Beitbridge beauty and Carnival Queen Zimbabwe 2014 finalist had travelled to Gwanda to attend the auditions which were held at the Gwanda Polytechnic. She was one of the first models to be auditioned and impressed the Miss Zimbabwe Trust scouting team.
Like the Matabeleland North auditions in Lupane on Wednesday, not many people were auditioned though there was a lot of hype around the auditions because college students were writing exams. The few who were interested were however young and short, except for those who were selected to proceed to Harare for the Miss World Zimbabwe boot camp next month.
One of the lecturers at the polytechnic, Gertrude Sibanda said people needed to support modelling as it was an art.
“Modelling is an art and should be appreciated like any other as people have different talents. It might not be academic but it needs to be supported,” she said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the auditions, Sarah Mpofu, who is part of the scouting team said she was disappointed with the Trust’s new way of selecting finalists for Miss Zimbabwe as it took away the bubble from Miss Bulawayo.
“Selecting models through scouting deprives the public and models of modelling shows. Miss Bulawayo had grown and was an event people looked forward to each year, but now it’s gone down the drain,” Mpofu said.
Over the years, regional pageants were held to select contestants who would go on to represent their provinces at the national finals, but that was changed last year by the Miss Zimbabwe Trust who preferred scouting for models.
However, the Fingers Academy boss said this would not deter her from hosting modelling shows as she is planning to host a show similar to Miss Bulawayo so as to give people in Bulawayo entertainment.
The scouting continues today with Bulawayo auditions taking place at the Rainbow hotel from 10AM.
Online Reporter