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Arts Reporters
“Dzichava nhoroondo . . . Mwari vanoburitsa mudondo . . . ndoda kuvapa mbiri kwete yepondo, nekuti ndivo mambo vanochinja musambo . . . ,” goes the lyrics by Zimdancehall artiste Enzo Ishall.
Translating to English, it will be history and depending on your connotation this is the case to be told at the just ended inaugural Miss Zimbabwe Queen.
History has been made!
After four years with no national pageant, finally a new babe has been born.
Yes, Zimbabwe now has a queen.
A beauty pageant queen.
Miss Zimbabwe Queen 2022.
Despite late start due to logistical challenges, the pageant held at the giant auditorium at Rainbow Towers, saw 25 years old model Charlotte Muziri crowned the inaugural queen.
Muziri who hails from Masvingo beat other 11 contestants as she walked away with a brand new VW car, consolation prizes which include laptops, jewellery, hairdos maintenance for a year, air ticket to Cape Town and dresses for a year courtesy of Hilz Couture, among others.
Muziri a runway and commercial model, eloquently, flawlessly sailed through during the question and answer segment.
First princess went to professional award winning model and media personality Gina Mutemeri while fashion designer and musician Stacey Hall was voted second princess.
After the announcement of the winners, the judges were commended for a job well done by the crowd as most of the people were echoing the same sentiments of fairness on the results.
Crowd’s favourites Lyshanda Moya and Tanatswa Tamia failed to make it to the top 3 as they only sailed through top 7.
Each time there were on stage, they received thunderous cheers from the fans.
The pageant hosted by former models Hilda Mabu and Tendai Hunda saw different people from walks of life including diplomats, celebrities and musicians among others.
Renowned popular master of ceremonies Tich Mataz and Miss Malaika 2001 Brita Maselethulini were the hosts of the night presented well.
The glitz and glam event also saw some of the yesteryear former Miss Zimbabwe queens as the judges.
The list included Miss Zimbabwe 1980, Shirley Nyanyiwa — inobuda here
Chingoka, Samantha Tshuma, Langa Sibanda-Llyod, Belinda Potts, Caroline Marufu, Lisa Morgan and guest judge all the way from Uganda, socialite, businesswoman and actress in the popular Netflix series, “Young, Rich and Famous” — Zari Hassan affectionately known as Zari The Bosslady.
On the entertainment side, the vibe was correct.
Musician Jah Prayzah did not disappoint as he put up a polished act.
First he sang while the popular song “Nyeredzi” while the models were strutting their stuff during the evening gown segment as they were dressed by various designers.
Then not to be outshined was “ladies man” musician Trevor Dongo who also put up a scintillating performance, singing for the girls on stage then later entertainment as part of the script.
Beezman, who is popularly known as Chipoko ChaSauro, the surprise act of the night also proved his mettle.
Before that Enzo Ishall who dished out his two tunes “Ehee” and “Siki” which put the crowd in jovial mood and tempo of the show.
For real, the “Ehee” song proved worthwhile at the event as it was touching and resembling the trials the organisers went through past months in planning the event.
And this was also concurred by the event organiser Tendai Hunda and also the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa.
Speaking at the occasion, Minister Mutsvangwa said the platform to compete is not in vain but gives these young women more confidence, develop social skills, poise and personality.
“Pageants teach contestants multiple life skills such as learning to be comfortable on stage and around strangers. They push women to be better which helps them to become more successful,” she said.
“There is much more to beauty pageants than simply strutting their stuff on the ramp. Modelling is big business across the world, with many young women earning millions of dollars every year through endorsements and advertisements.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said pageants of this kind are merely contest where pretty faces and well-trimmed female bodies are displayed.
“As a politician, woman, mother and grandmother it makes me feel really contended to see youngwomen doing what they love to do best. What we have to to do is to give you our full support and ensure you achive your life dreams.”
Beauty is as much a part of a society’s value system and self-expression as any other category, and it is a critical part of social identity, even as we interact with other societies. We thus can’t abandon our definitions of beauty, indeed our value systems ahead of externally imposed value systems. We see beauty pageants as a good start for young women who want to make a decent career and gain recognition,” she explained.
She later saluted the organisers.
“I salute former models Tendai Hunda and Hilda Mabu and others who worked tirelessly to make this event a success. Out of this event one can think of girls like Angeline Musasiwa, Brita maselethulini, Vaness Sibanda who rose to fame after being crowned Miss Zimbabwe. My word to you is make us proud as you sell your country. You are the image of our society and please don’t let us down in your future endeavours.”
Miss Zimbabwe Queen founder member, Tendai Hunda said despite all the challenges and failures as some might want to state, they have done a good job of resuscitating the modelling culture in Zimbabwe.
“I know what you expected is not what you saw tonight (Saturday) for some reasons which was beyond our control.
“We also need to respect our elders and listen to their ideas for the betterment of the industry.”
“I would like to applaud my team for great work and to us we have achieved our goal. Next year it will be bigger and better and let me also thank the sponsors and corporates that came to support,” she said.
Other people who attended the show had mixed feelings about it.
“We are happy now the real beauty pageant is back and kudos to the organisers. I like the settings even though the show started late due to technicalities but we should give credit to where it is due,” said Tanaka Msindo who came to support her friend who was contesting.
Terrence Mpofu who was agitated because the show took more hours to start as they were preparing the stage while the crowd was starting to trickling in said it was unfair.
“I think the organisers did not do their homework thorough because they can’t be seen running around while it was time to start. It was unfair to us who came planning for two hour show rather it prolonged,” he said.
But generally the show was praised for bringing the lost glory in the industry.
Online Reporter