adminTanaka Mahanya
ZIMBABWE will make a return to this year’s Miss Universe pageant in December after a 22-year hiatus.
This year’s Miss Universe will be held in El Salvador.
Local models will compete in the Miss Universe Zimbabwe in September to select a representative for the global contest.
Miss Universe Zimbabwe director, Tendai Hunda, appealed for support from the Government, media, and other stakeholders to ensure the pageant’s success.
The national competition will give an opportunity to Zimbabwe’s fashion designers, make-up artists and musicians to showcase their work.
Hunda said the return of Miss Universe Zimbabwe will provide a key contribution to the success of the country’s arts sector.
“Holding a national competition to choose our representative won’t be a simple task, and, therefore, we humbly ask for support from the Government, the corporate world, media and other stakeholders to make our pageant a success,” said Hunda.
“We also firmly believe the return of Miss Universe Zimbabwe is symbiotic and will provide a valuable lifeline to the country’s arts sector, while contributing towards youth empowerment.
“If successful, the competition will not only be a historic occasion, but will also significantly raise Zimbabwe’s international status.”
She said they had scheduled an introductory fundraising dinner for June 10.
“We realised that Zimbabwe was not being given a fair chance to participate on the Miss Universe global platform, which claims to be an inclusive stage for the modelling and beauty industry.
“Against this backdrop, we felt compelled to take on the challenge to have Zimbabwe reinstated to the Miss Universe competition.
“We managed to get a favourable response and we were officially granted a licence on April 4.
“I am absolutely elated that Zimbabwe is about to end its protracted absence and resume its participation in the coveted Miss Universe pageant,” she said.
Miss Universe is one of the top beauty pageants in the world, owned and operated by the Miss Universe organisation in the United States.
The participants are exposed to a variety of networking and employment prospects.
Online Reporter