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INFORMATION, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa says beauty contests present massive opportunities for young women to find a path to stardom.
The Minister was speaking during the Miss Zimbabwe Queen 2022 pageant in Harare on Saturday.
“Beauty pageants teach life lessons, such as learning to communicate with the audience and building confidence.
“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.”
The Minister said the platform should not be taken for granted.
“This platform presents a massive opportunity for you to scale greater heights to stardom and fame.
“As you get the fame, and celebrity status, windows of opportunities also open for you to be employed in the public relations and the advertising industry.
“In beauty pageants, there are many different values that women can learn and use to better themselves in their careers.
“This platform to compete is not in vain but gives these young women more confidence, develop skills, poise and personality.
“All these are necessary life skills that will put them at an advantage as they go about scouting for opportunities across the globe,” she said.
“Pageants push women to be better which helps them to become more successful.
“Beyond that, I appreciate the hours, indeed months of work that go into the preparatory process ahead of such pageants.
“These require hard work, discipline, self-control and consistent commitment to the dictates of the competition if one seeks to be among the very best.
“I believe these are life skills that endure beyond the mere months of preparation.”
Minister Mutsvangwa also noted that pageants were not all about the physical appearance of the young women.
“Pageants also present a great opportunity for women to realise the extent to which they can stretch themselves, outside of their comfort zone and better themselves in the process.
“We must define our own beauty, within our own cultural contexts, which reflect our own value systems.
“We see beauty pageants as a good start for young women who want to make a decent career and gain recognition.
“You are the role models for the girl child with good morals and behaviour.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter