dyton mupawaenda
THIRTY one years ago, Angeline Musasiwa finished FOURTH at the 1994 Miss World contest in Sun City, South Africa.
It’s the closest that a Zimbabwean beauty queen has come to winning the Miss World beauty contest.
Angeline finished tied in fourth place with Branka Bebic of Croatia.
Forty five years after Shirley Nyanyiwa blazed a trail and became the first black Zimbabwean woman to take part at the Miss World beauty contest in London in 1980, Musasiwa’s success story at the 1994 Miss World provided a benchmark for Zimbabwean representatives at the global showcase.
Angeline continues to inspire many of the country’s beauty queens.
One of them is Dananai Ratiozo Chipunza, a former Miss Carnival, who also did well in international pageants.
Chipunza came seventh at the Miss Tourism International in Putrajaya, Malaysia, in 2013.
She also scooped the Brand Ambassador for Asia Metropolitan University prize.
Chipunza came third in the Talent Show.
“I get so much inspiration from what Angeline Musasiwa achieved. She is one of my role models and I always work hard knowing that Zimbabwean models get top positions at international competitions,” said Chipunza.
To understand the quality of the opposition which Angeline faced in Sun City one just has to look at the winner of the Miss World 1994 title − Aishwarya Rai of India.
South Africa’s Basetsana Julia Makgalemele taking the runners-up slot and Irene Esther Ferreira Izquierdo finishing in third place.
Aishwarya is often regarded as the most famous Miss World winner.
She is the only Miss World to have also won Miss Photogenic and Miss World Continental Queen of Beauty (Asia & Oceania).
In a way, Aishwarya − who then became a very successful Bollywood actress − was a game changer.
She never hesitated to challenge outdated perceptions.
Last week, she reflected on her journey during the 1994 Miss World competition during a media interaction in India.
“When I became Miss World, I was definitely not the best beach body of all the 87 contestants. I can vouch for it, I can put a stamp on it. And yet I won the title.”
The former Miss World welcomed the Miss World organisation’s 2014 decision to drop the swimsuit round. In her view, focusing solely on physical appearance overlooks the true purpose of such competitions.
“People believe that this (swimwear round) is an imperative round, and this becomes the deciding factor. That’s not true.
“I was told getting the ‘Miss Perfect 10’ title isn’t about literally your physicality, it was all about how you presented yourself, your confidence, and so much else that went with it.”
Aishwarya was 21 when she took the Miss World crown.
During the contest, she was asked what qualities should Miss World have?
She had responded:
“The Miss Worlds that we have had up to date have been proof enough that they have had compassion. Compassion for the underprivileged, and not only for the people, who have status and stature.
“We have had people, who can look beyond the barriers that man has set up − of nationalities and colour. We have to look beyond those and that would make a true Miss World. A true person, a real person.” − H-Metro Reporter/The Herald/India Today
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