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We went to Germany via Johannesburg and Amsterdam where we arrived on March 3 to extremely cold temperatures, but that was the least of my problems.
As we arrived in Germany, one country after the other, I could not help but wonder if I had it in me to see off the other 45 contestants that were after the top honour.
I paid attention to every nitty-gritty and when two contestants dropped out of the race just a week into camp, I was delighted because it meant fewer people to worry about.
During camp we visited tourist attractions in Germany like their sea bridge, which is said to be the longest in Europe. We also visited the poorest places in the country while paying courtesy calls to the rich and famous.
I became good friends with Romania because we were together at the Miss World Finals in 2009, Brazil because we shared the same room and Bolivia, whom I just felt a connection with. We called each other by country’s name, probably for national pride.
Those three friends I had, now definitely know that there is a country called Zimbabwe which is worth visiting. Because of the Press conferences, which we had every three days, I marketed the country well — took every opportunity to tell everyone what a beautiful and resource-rich country Zimbabwe is.
There were model parties every three days and it was on such days that we also went shopping. The organisers made sure that everyone ate well — eating was compulsory, there was no skipping of meals.
But it was the photo shoots that proved tricky for me because we sometimes had to do it in windy, rainy and very cold conditions — something which was totally new to me.
The passing of days through these activities and shuffling between five-star hotels in cities such as Klei, Dusseldorf, Nuremburg, Berlin and Usedom, turned the relaxed first week atmosphere into a tense camp.
Everyone started minding their own business and spent time on their own as reality struck that there were 44 of us gunning for the same prize.
We had people in camp that had previously won international pageants and we had powerhouse countries in modelling that always scoop these accolades.
There were just three categories and the pre-judging process, which involved interviews and doing what we would do on the actual day, was done on the eve of the finals, which were on March 15.
On the actual day I woke up and I was like, “Vanessa this day will either make you or break you”. I thought about the people who look up to me and the hopes of the millions of Zimbabweans that rested on my shoulders and I prayed.
I prayed in the hotel room, I prayed backstage and even as I did my thing on stage with a huge smile on my face.
I had one thing that everyone in camp feared for me and that was my catwalk and so I maximised on that.
I made sure the judges saw that I was confident of what I was doing.
At 21.45, as the top 15 was called, my name came up and I felt relieved, but that still was not good enough for me. So I said to God, “if you have taken me this far then why not take me all the way?”
And when the top five was called, my name was among them. At that moment I was not myself anymore — I was something different.
I could not feel anything, I was ecstatic and I am not sure if I was thinking at all — I just stood there smiling and waiting for the next stage of events.
Then it was time for crowning. My head was filled with thousands of thoughts and in that moment I heard my name being called for the third time that night, signalling my entry into international supermodel status.
I really felt good about myself — I felt like I was with the stars, maybe even a star itself. I thought about the pageants I had won from kindergarten, primary, high school and college to being Miss Harare and ultimately Miss Zimbabwe.
Here I stood representing my country, the country I love so much. It was like the greatest thing that has ever happened for me as I boldly declared to the world that Zimbabwe is not just some country in sub-Saharan Africa but a great African giant.
I was delighted not just for the country and myself but for the appreciation of African beauty.
Botswana did Africa proud at the Miss World and I did my part at the Miss Top Model of the World — what could make an African prouder and happier?
Now all aspiring models have a reason to hope — they now say if Vanessa did it, why can’t we? I am glad that I have contributed to inspiring young models not only in Zimbabwe but Africa as a whole.-The Sunday Mail
Bongani Ndlovu