adminBrenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
FORTY contestants from around the world will converge on the Harare International Conference Centre as the country hosts Miss Heritage World for the first time on December 7. The international pageant is expected to be one of a kind with organisers saying the show will change the face of beauty pageants locally. “We are excited by the opportunity as the show will be broadcasting live in 40 countries. As the licence holders of Miss Heritage International makes us the first African country to pursue an international pageant,” said chairman Tare Munzara of the Miss Global fame.
Munzara, however, said the Government and private sector need to come on board and support the initiative in order to harness the benefits of hosting the contest.
He highlighted some of the benefits saying the country gains more through hosting than sending models to international pageants.
“Countries that have hosted pageants like the Miss World gained millions from accommodation bookings, participation fees, advertising as well as creating employment,” he said.
“Having such as the licence is a great opportunity to market the country worldwide. Local companies stand to benefit through marketing their products on the platform,” he said.
All eyes will be on Zimbabwe and hopes are high that the country will successfully host a pageant of such global magnitude.
“This pageant belongs to us as a country and it is up to us to come together to make this work. We have already had offers for millions of dollars from countries like Nigeria but we are not giving it up.
“However, if we fail to get adequate support to host the pageant, we will have no option but to pass the baton,” said vice chairman Ronald Tisauke.
The countries that have confirmed participation, according to the organisers, include Bahamas, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Norway, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia.
Online Reporter