Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube, Sunday Life Reporter
WHILE many know Nomaqhikiza “Noma” Mokoni as the bald beauty who captivated audiences during the Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2026 pageant, few know that her greatest passion lies far from the runway.
Long before she graced international fashion platforms and found herself under the spotlight of one of Zimbabwe’s biggest beauty competitions, Mokoni stood before blackboards in rural classrooms, teaching children whose dreams often exceeded the resources available to them.
Today, the Los Angeles-based international model is turning those memories into action through Mokoni Children’s Aid, a non-profit making organisation she founded to help underprivileged learners access the educational resources they need to succeed.
Officially launched on July 31, 2025, the initiative is rooted in experiences that shaped her long before pageantry and modelling entered the picture.
Born in Nketa, Bulawayo and raised between the city and Gwanda, Mokoni spent three years working as a teacher at Makokwe Primary School in Gwanda District. It was there that she encountered children whose determination to learn remained unwavering despite lacking essentials such as exercise books, stationery, uniforms and school shoes.
Rather than forgetting those experiences as her career took her abroad, she carried them with her.
“Education played a significant role in shaping my own future. It created opportunities, opened doors and helped me build a life beyond what I once imagined possible. I know first-hand how transformative access to opportunity can be and I believe every child deserves that same chance,” Mokoni said.
Unlike many charities that focus exclusively on orphaned children, Mokoni Children’s Aid seeks to support vulnerable learners based on need, recognising that poverty can affect children even within loving and supportive families.
The organisation’s mission is simple: to provide essential school supplies while restoring dignity and creating opportunities for children to realise their full potential.
In its formative stages, the organisation is mobilising resources, forging partnerships and consulting schools in Gwanda South to identify the most pressing needs before commencing distribution programmes. Its initial focus will be on rural primary and secondary schools in the district, with plans to expand nationwide as support grows.
In the long term, Mokoni envisions mentorship and leadership programmes that will empower young people to dream bigger and believe in their potential.
For her, the project goes beyond donating books and uniforms.
“I firmly believe that potential is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Through Mokoni Children’s Aid, we hope to help close that gap and ensure that more children have the chance to learn, grow, dream and build brighter futures for themselves, their families and their communities.”
The initiative reflects a different side of a woman who recently became one of the most talked-about contestants at the Miss Universe Zimbabwe pageant. Mokoni drew national attention when she confidently embraced her natural bald look on the competition stage, earning praise for challenging conventional beauty standards and encouraging authenticity.
Many supporters believed she had what it took to wear the crown and have since urged her to return for another attempt. However, Mokoni says the chapter has closed. In a recent Facebook question-and-answer session, when asked whether she would compete again, her response was brief and definitive.
“I don’t think so.”
For Mokoni, losing the title was simply part of life’s journey.
“When you enter a competition, you should know that there will be a winner and loser. That’s just life and you accept it and move on regardless of the result,” she said. Now, her focus is fixed on building impact beyond pageantry.
Mokoni also revealed that she is married and a mother of two boys, balancing family life with a growing international career and her philanthropic ambitions.
Despite building a life abroad, she says Zimbabwe remains in her heart.
