New Miss Zim crowned

Melissa Mpofu Showbiz Editor
Harare’s 19-year old Catherine Makaya yesterday replaced former Miss Zimbabwe Thabiso Phiri after Phiri resigned unceremoniously last week.Makaya was crowned queen at the re-run of the contest at the La Chelle travel agency in Harare.

The contest dubbed Miss Zimbabwe 2014 reloaded, was open to the top seven contestants in the initial Miss Zimbabwe pageant held in June but only four of them participated yesterday. The four who were brave to re-contest are Maita Kainga, Mellisa Chikerema, Rairo Gunguwo and Makaya.

The reigning first and second princesses, Tendai Hunda and Letwin Chinomona refused to participate fearing to lose the contest and have their crowns taken.

Chinomona said: “I am happy with what I have, I do appreciate it and didn’t want to contest for the Miss Zimbabwe title. I decided to keep my own title and stick to what I have,” she said.

The first princess concurred saying she was content with her title.

A visibly emotional Miss Zimbabwe Trust chairperson, Mary Chiwenga said she was disheartened that Phiri had resigned.

“Thabiso and I had bonded so well and it’s sad that she will no longer be representing the country at Miss World. Preparations for the international contest were going on well with South African designer Spero doing designs for some of her outfits she was meant to wear there.

“But, I will continue supporting her in all that she does,” said Chiwenga.

Asked about Makaya’s winning prizes, Chiwenga said Phiri would surrender the crown prizes to Makaya.

“Thabiso will surrender her prizes excluding what she has already used. We had promised to pay her school fees at UZ next year as part of her winning prizes. I will still pay her fees as her sister,” Chiwenga said.

Part of Phiri’s winning prizes included $10,000 and a Chevrolet Cruze. She never drove the vehicle but had spent part of her winning money.

Speaking on her new title, an overjoyed Makaya who is fresh from high school, said she was postponing going to university until next year.

“I got a place to study law at the University of Johannesburg but I will enrol next year in August, now that I have been crowned Miss Zimbabwe,” she said.

She added that she did not expect to win but would do her best to represent the country at the Miss World contest taking place in the United Kingdom in December.

“Miss Zimbabwe is the first pageant I have contested so I will really work hard to represent the country on the international stage,” she said.

Just like Phiri, Makaya will have to wait a bit longer to drive her Cruze as she does not have a driving licence.

The Miss Zimbabwe reloaded pageant was an emotional ceremony for Chiwenga and Phiri who shed tears uncontrollably just before the ceremony began.

A disheartened Phiri who referred to herself as the original Miss Zimbabwe emphasised that her decision to resign was personal and that no duress or undue influence was brought on her to make her decision.

Phiri has kept her reasons for stepping down as queen personal as she refused to share them yesterday leaving the nation in suspense as to why she resigned unceremoniously.

Meanwhile, some models have launched a campaign – “Bring back Thabiso Phiri” as they feel robbed saying Phiri should not have stepped down.