Is Zim ready for Miss World?
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Catherine Makaya, who was stripped of the Miss Zimbabwe crown

Melissa Mpofu/Bongani Ndlovu
THE Miss Zimbabwe Trust is confident that the new Miss Zimbabwe who was enthroned on Friday, will hold her own at the Miss World pageant in London next month.  The initial queen Thabiso Phiri resigned under unclear circumstances, barely five months into her reign. A Miss Zimbabwe Reloaded pageant was held to select her successor from the top nine contestants and 19-year-old Catherine Makaya was crowned.  Barely two months into her reign, Makaya was stripped of her crown for being rebellious and unprofessional as she violated the rules and regulations which govern the conduct of a national queen.  Tendai Hunda is the new queen to represent Zimbabwe in London.

Makaya is said to have denounced the Miss Zimbabwe Trust after a suspected fallout with chairperson Marry Chiwenga regarding how she was supposed to prepare for the Miss World contest.

According to the Trust, Makaya was difficult to work with as she was more of a rebel who did not attend their meetings.

The model had since gone solo, preferring to work with former Miss Zim Trust member – England-based Chrispen Sachikonye.

She had sourced her own sponsorship, a personal groomer, and new designers and was expected to leave the country for the Miss World boot camp yesterday.

She had also called on the services of Iyasa who successfully equipped her with dance skills which she was expected to use for the talent show.

When contacted for comment yesterday, Makaya refused to comment on her dethronement and probably did not travel to the UK either as she was meant to travel yesterday.

Miss Zimbabwe Trust spokesperson, Tendai Chirau said Makaya’s behaviour had left the Trust with no option but to dethrone her as they were strict with issues to do with discipline among models.

“As Miss Zimbabwe Trust, we’re very concerned about discipline. Models have to follow what the Trust says. If models are disgruntled about how we operate, they shouldn’t use the media to air  their views.

“They should sit down with the Trust so that the issues are addressed and ironed out,” Chirau said.

As a result of Makaya’s unceremonious dethronement, first princess Hunda, who initially refused to contest for the Miss Zimbabwe re-run saying she was content with being first princess was on Friday announced as Makaya’s replacement.

She together with the Trust is now working flat out, preparing  for the Miss World contest.

The Trust is confident that Hunda, who has less than four days to prepare will make it to the Miss World camp on time as the models should be in camp by Thursday.

Chirau said the only setback now was Hunda’s UK visa which they hope will be processed by Wednesday.

“I’d like to assure the nation that everything is under control. We’re working on arranging a visa for Tendai and it should be ready before the 20th of this month.

“There’s someone grooming her, preparing her for the pageant and they’re progressing well,” said Chirau.

Asked which project and video footage Hunda would take for her beauty with a purpose presentation which all contesting queens should have worked on during their reigns, Chirau said she would use the one which she worked on with former queen, Phiri.

“As Miss Zimbabwe Trust, we’ve been doing cancer awareness under the Musha Mukadzi project. That is the project which Thabiso was working on as her Beauty With a Purpose project.

“When Thabiso was queen, Tendai worked with her on this project so she has merely taken over their project as the Miss Zimbabwe representative at Miss World finals,” Chirau said.

Beauty with a purpose constitutes the highest percentage to the models’ final mark.

Speaking on the outfits she would wear on the London ramp, Chirau said renowned South African-based designer, Spero Villioti – who dressed the Miss Zimbabwe models’ evening wear, was hard at work and would be done by Wednesday.

“Spero is extremely busy trying to make sure Tendai has the best outfit for the evening wear  category. The gown is now ready for her to fit,” said Chirau.

 

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