Online Reporter
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
The top 30 contestants for this year’s Miss Universe Zimbabwe are set to be unveiled on Tuesday, following auditions in Harare and Bulawayo that attracted close to 100 aspiring beauty queens.
From experienced runway models to first-time entrants, the auditions were filled with glamour, confidence and intense competition as hopefuls vied for a place in the prestigious pageant.
Only 12 finalists will advance to boot camp ahead of the grand finale scheduled for June 6 at the Harare Hippodrome, where Zimbabwe’s next queen will be crowned.
Organisers, judges and fashion enthusiasts were left impressed by the high standard of talent on display, with contestants showcasing elegance, communication skills, modelling ability and personal projects. The buzz quickly moved onto social media, where fans flooded timelines with clips, photos and debate over their favourite contestants. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok were alive with predictions and praise.
“This year, Zimbabwe will take it (Miss Universe crown),” wrote one excited fan after audition clips went viral.
Another commented: “The competition is on another level. Some of these girls are already international standard.”
Fashion enthusiasts also applauded the diversity, confidence and ambition of the contestants, noting the growing calibre of young women entering the pageant space.
The auditions also featured a surprise return of former contestants and past pageant queens, adding experience to an already competitive field and making the selection process even tougher for judges.
Danya Kabwebwe, Miss Universe Zimbabwe board chairperson, said she was impressed by the quality and turnout.
“We’re extremely happy and honestly shocked by the level of competition this year. Zimbabwe truly has beautiful and talented women ready for the world stage,” she said.
“The girls came prepared. We saw confidence, intelligence, elegance and passion. The platform is clearly growing.”
Kabwebwe added that selecting the top 30 would be a difficult task due to the strong talent pool.
“The competition is very tight this year, and the judges have a difficult decision ahead. However, we’re confident we’ll select the best to represent Zimbabwe internationally,” she said.
The top 30 finalists will be officially announced on Tuesday, after which public voting will commence.
