adminMelissa Mpofu Showbiz Editor
With two days left before the nation witnesses the crowning of Carnival Queen Zimbabwe, organisers of the beauty pageant have gone a gear up by introducing a programme to expose the 2014 finalists. The programme: Carnival Queen Zimbabwe 2014 — The Making, started airing on ZBCtv on Monday evening during prime time viewing and will run till Friday. The show, which serves as a build up to the pageant, charts the progress of the finalists while they are in boot camp.
During the 30-minute programme which is hosted by ZBC’s Style Base presenter, Monalisa Dube, the models are given an opportunity to share their experiences with the rest of the country. The programme is similar to South Africa’s The Road to Miss South Africa which is broadcast weeks before the Miss South Africa finals.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) spokesperson Sugar Chagonda said the Carnival Queen Making programme was introduced to expose the finalists to the people.
“In Zimbabwe, people barely ever get to know the girls contesting for pageants and rely on reading about them in the Press. We therefore decided to bring in this programme so that people watch the girls while they are in boot camp and have a better appreciation of the pageant,” he said.
“After getting to know the models, those who will not be able to attend the event will be able to watch the pageant in the comfort of their homes as the Carnival Queen Zimbabwe pageant will be broadcast live on ZBC on Friday,” said Chagonda.
Today, the models will tour the Heroes’ Acre and Lion and Cheetah Park before meeting influential women who will share their experiences with them. Later on, ZTA in partnership with the City of Harare will host a Carnival lighting ceremony along First Street and George Silundika Avenue to mark the official switching on of Carnival Street lights.
It seems Carnival Queen Zimbabwe could just be the new Miss Zimbabwe as organisers of the event, ZTA were at one time responsible for the hosting of Miss Zimbabwe before they pulled out after the pageant was marred by controversy.
It is no secret the ZTA still have a soft spot for pageantry as they are going all out to give the Carnival Queen pageant an international touch.
The finale being held at the Harare International Conference Centre will be graced by renowned international beauty queens and the queen will be saluted by the Presidential Guard to confirm her status as Queen. Just like Miss South Africa, the girl who will be crowned Carnival Queen Zimbabwe will drive away with $20,000 as part of her winning prizes.
Some of the contestants who were meant to contest at Miss Zimbabwe last year are now trying their luck at Carnival Queen. One of the models who requested anonymity said she preferred Carnival Queen because there were better opportunities.
“I prefer contesting for this pageant because there are better opportunities and prizes compared to Miss Zimbabwe. At least ZTA is much more organised and you sleep peacefully during camp without fear of being thrown out like they did to us at Miss Zimbabwe last year,” she said.
Meanwhile, former Face of Zimbabwe Sibo Bero, has replaced Jessica Joubert as Bulwayo’s representative at the pageant.
Entertainment on the night will be provided by the Steel Band from Trinidad & Tobago, Cindy Munyavi, Pee Kay and surprise dancehall artistes.
Miss Zimbabwe seems to be a dying brand as the organisers are failing to get the pageant up and running. The event has been postponed many times and no date has been set for the pageant.
Other countries have already sent their contestants’ portfolios and are preparing for Miss World while Zimbabwe is uncertain if Miss Zimbabwe will be crowned. Last year, Zimbabwe failed to participate at Miss World as organisers kept postponing the event. The same may happen this year if organisers do not up their game.
Online Reporter