Zimpapers Logo

Melissa Mpofu  Showbiz Editor
Miss Zimbabwe 2014 finalist, Hildah Mabu, who was disqualified from contesting in the country’s flagship pageant last year, has been given another opportunity to redeem herself at this year’s contest.Mabu, who was disqualified for misconduct after having sneaked out of camp at night during last year’s boot camp, is part of the 56 models who checked into a five-star hotel in Victoria Falls on Saturday for a month-long boot camp.

At least three participants who fail to grasp and meet the Miss Zimbabwe Trust requirements will be evicted from camp every three days as pageant organisers want to remain with 30 quality models who will take to the ramp on April 25. Familiar faces vying for the Miss World Zimbabwe title are former Miss USA-Zimbabwe Vanessa Mbedzi, Rairo Gunguwo and Chiedza Mukucha who have tried their luck at the contest several times.

Welcoming the Miss Zimbabwe delegates (finalists), Miss Zimbabwe Trust chairperson, Mary Chiwenga emphasised that they wanted to crown a probity queen and would not tolerate those who misbehave.

The pageant’s rules and regulations were read out to the models in order for them to abide and not be found wanting. They were urged to desist from fighting, stealing, contesting in other pageants, posing nude, sneaking out of camp and delaying to turn up for meetings and other events as this could result in one being disqualified instantly.

The models’ hopes of having selfies taken in the resort town were shattered as their mobile phones were confiscated upon arrival and will only be handed back to them when they are evicted or after the finals for those who will make it. The first three models who did not excel at tasks conducted on Saturday evening are expected to be evicted today. The models were taken through exercises on Saturday for about three hours to test their endurance and fitness, as well as aerobics on Sunday morning.

On April 16, only 30 finalists will be left. They will check out of their Vic Falls home and shift base to Harare in preparation for their sashing ceremony at the Miss Zimbabwe Trust offices on April 17 ahead of the final. The Miss World Zimbabwe final will be held at Mermaids Pool in Shamva on April 25. It will once again be a black-tie event. The lady who will be crowned queen will go on to represent the country at the Miss World contest.