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Kumbirayi Shoniwa Entertainment Reporter
THE 2013 edition of the Mr and Miss Deaf beauty contest, which was recently held at a colourful event at the Crowne Plaza in Harare, was a huge success.
Graphic designer Marvin Mukuyu won the Mr Deaf Zimbabwe title while the Miss Deaf award went to 27-year-old Shaleen Chidyamukuru from Harare.
Founder and Organiser of the event, Madeline Yohane, believes that the show is necessary in helping deaf people get over stereotypes and realise that disability is not inability.
“The beauty contest is meant to give (deaf people) confidence and raise their self-esteem in a world which rarely tolerates disabled individuals.
“Communication barriers make it difficult for them to express themselves to other people, with teachers not being trained in sign-language finding it hard to teach deaf children in schools, for example,” she said.
The concept of the event is to make those with hearing impairments become aware that other people with similar problems can achieve more in life and encourage them to pursue their dreams in life.
2012 Miss Deaf Zimbabwe winner, Kudakwashe Mapeture, managed to get into the world top ten at the international event held in the Czech Republic in July. The local show is held annually and the winners get to represent the country at the Mr/Miss Deaf World pageant in the Czech Republic featuring more than 40 countries from around the world.
Online Reporter