‘Street Code’ raises eyebrows

models at a car sale combined with a fashion show at Belgravia Sports Club last week.
Scores of revellers, fashionistas and car dealers turned up to watch a combination of beautiful girls riding on sports cars and later on the “street party”.
Critics slammed the concept arguing that models were being sold like vehicles at an auction.
Others said there was nothing unique about the show as it was just “exploitation” of young women in broad daylight.
However, the show has become the talking point on social network sites with most people expressing their views on the concept.
Zimbojam, an online lifestyle and culture magazine, published pictures of the event and some of them were quite revealing.
Mercy Mushaninga, the organiser of the Street Code and owner of Zim Gossip Models – a leading modelling agency – said there was nothing wrong with the event.
“There is always a problem when one introduces a new concept.
“You find that there are always people who criticise you for everything you do and I am now used to that.
“For me the show was a great success and we had lots of business as many buyers came to the show,” she said.
Mushaninga said people stereotype modelling and yet models are good marketers.
“It is always a challenge that people say negative things about modelling and models are able to sell anything and in this case they managed to sell cars,” she said.
Asked about the scantily dressed models, Mushaninga said it was part of the fashion show.
“We had several designers who dressed these girls to showcase their garments and nothing else.
“I think some of the criticism is unwarranted,” she said.
The grooming expert claimed that some of the criticism was sour grapes by her competitors.
She, however, vowed to do another “Street Code” at either Belgravia Sports Club or Sam Levy’s on April 30.
Some of the comments posted on the website read: “Hmm why do I feel like something is wrong here? Isn’t this using women for their bodies? The very thing that most of us are fighting against. I am a woman and I am not sure I like what I see,” she said.
A model defended the show saying: “This is part of what we do as models promoting our image. If Naomi (Campbell) and Tyra (Banks) did it, why can’t we? It’s not like we (are) doing anything sinister so please guys don’t get the wrong impression towards models,” she said.
However, another reader responded by saying that: “Honey look at Naomi and Tyra. First of all, they look like real models. Most of the girls in these pictures would not make the grade if I had a modelling agency.
“Modelling is about beauty, it’s about the idea of perfection but most of the girls on these pictures look like go-go dancers, bodies not toned. So if they do not set standards who is going to employ them? So people like Mercy, the owner, resort to making money by exploiting these girls in this way,” she said.
Another reader fumed: “Ah taura hako Chichi, I’m not satisfied with their purpose ipapo . . . Kuchirikutengesa mota here ikoko? (I’m not sure of what’s happening, but is that how you sell cars?). Wise up you silly models, the people came to see the free view of flaunted bodies in skimpy dressing I’m sure hapana mota yakatengwa after all.”
“The problem is that we see these things in movies and are quick to copy and paste to our own Zimbabwe. In the US the girls you see washing cars just for those few minutes get paid a minimum US$700 or so and the question now is how much did these kids get for ‘selling’ those cars? I can bet my last dollar they never got even half of US$700 each,” said another reader.
“I never thought I would say this but I do agree with what most of you are saying especially Ritha.
“I am all about progress, I think outside the box and I am usually an advocate of loving your body and flaunting it if you can.
“It seems these are very young girls who do not even know that they are being exploited.
“A lot of people have a problem with the way there were posing but that is modelling, it involves a lot of sexual connotations. I think the real problem is they made the girls look cheap by dressing as hookers.
“If this event was about fashion, they should have dressed the models in designer wear and showcase the trends on the local fashion scene,” another critic said.
“Zimbabweans are quick at name-calling. You are missing the point here.
“Instead of criticising these young girls look at the real issue here, models don’t get paid much in this country and most of all it’s the owners of modelling agencies who are ‘exploiting’ these girls.
“I live overseas and have seen numerous car shows where they use sexy models. The problem is that the girls are too young and are not showcased in a positive light,” said another observer.