Zimpapers Logo

Melissa Mpofu Showbiz Editor
The search for a probity Miss Zimbabwe World queen is now on with scouting dates, venues and the pageant’s theme unveiled.
The Miss Zimbabwe Trust — organisers of the country’s flagship pageant — yesterday announced that this year’s pageant would run under the theme: “Probity” with  the hope of attracting decent contestants.

Tendai Chirau, Miss Zimbabwe Trust communications and programmes manager, said the pageant which was recently rebranded from Miss Zimbabwe to Miss Zimbabwe World would be held on April 25 at Mermaid Pool Resort in Shamva — a few kilometres out of Harare.

Shortlisted models would be expected to travel to Harare on April 1 for boot camp.

“The shortlisted models who’ll make it for boot camp will be called Miss Zimbabwe delegates. While in boot camp, some who fail to meet our standards will be sent packing and we’ll remain with semi-finalists who we’ll call Miss Zimbabwe World semi-finalists,” Chirau said.

He said their scouting team would be making its way to Matabeleland North next week for auditions at Lupane State University on Wednesday. Matabeleland South will follow with auditions at Gwanda Polytechnic on February 5. On February 6 and 7, the team will be in Bulawayo for auditions at Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel.

From there they will move to the Midlands where auditions will be conducted at Fairmile Motel on February 8. On February 11, Masvingo beauties will have to go to Masvingo Civic Centre to get a chance to represent their province at the national pageant.

Manicaland auditions will be conducted at the Amber hotel in Mutare on February 12 followed by Mashonaland East auditions on February 13 at the Women’s University in Marondera.

On February 17, the team will be in Mashonaland West auditioning models at the Chinoyi University of Technology before making their way to Bindura University of Science Education on February 18. They will round up auditions on February 19 in Chitungwiza and hold their last leg in Harare on February 20, 21 and 22.

Chirau said to be eligible for the pageant which has since been opened up to those in the Diaspora, one needed to be between 18 and 26 years old and single.

“Those interested in taking part need to be 1,71m tall, never married, single, slim and aged between 18 and 26 years,” he said.
He said those based outside Zimbabwe would have to fill in an entry form online through their www.misszimbabwe.org website. The communications manager said the pageant was being held early so as to give the girl who will be crowned queen ample time to prepare for Miss World finals. Miss World will for the first time be held in Australia on September 27, giving  the country’s queen  five months to prepare.

Tendai Hunda is the reigning Miss Zimbabwe World.