Zimpapers Logo

Simbarashe Mutizwa Showbiz Reporter
THIS year’s Miss Curvy Africa beauty pageant which was slated for tomorrow in Namibia’s capital city Windhoek has been cancelled over Ebola fears. Mercy “Catwalk” Mushaninga, the brains behind the pageant said the contest which was supposed to mark its second edition this year is expected to resume in 2015.

“We’ve decided to cancel this year’s Miss Curvy Africa after we were advised by the authorities in Namibia to abandon it over Ebola fears.

“The reason being that all our contestants were going to be living together. Most importantly is the fact that some parts of Africa, where some of our contestants were coming from have been condemned and affected by Ebola and this leaves us with no other option but to cancel the pageant,” she said.

Mushaninga however said preparations for the 2015 continental pageant are already underway with Nigeria scheduled to host the pageant next year and will still be represented by this year’s winners.

“The pageant is going ahead next year. We’ve already chosen Nigeria as the host country for the 2015 pageant and the pageant is going to be held in August but we haven’t finalised the date yet,” she said.

Mushaninga said models who had won this year are the ones that are going to represent their countries next year.

“Zimbabwe is still going to be represented by this year’s winners who are 19 year-old Sheila Chikengezha from Harare who is the reigning Miss Curvy Zimbabwe 2014, second princess Chengetayi Mnisi and first princess Chantelle Jeradi,” she said.

The pageant, which celebrates and recognises curvaceous African women, will be held under the theme “Models Against Hunger in Africa” and eight countries are going to take part.

Participating countries include Nigeria which is going to send two queens, South Africa four, Botswana two, Mozambique, Cameron, Zambia and Kenya are sending a model each.