Zimpapers Logo

Mbulelo Mpofu, [email protected] 

FUTURE NYONI, the reigning Mr Senior Zimbabwe, is poised to soar to new heights as he proudly represents Zimbabwe in the upcoming Mister Africa International competition. 

The event will start virtually from September 30, before the main event takes centre stage from 6 to 9 October.

Hailing from Victoria Falls, Nyoni carries with him the dreams and aspirations of a whole country and his region. He stands as the first male model from Matabeleland North to venture onto the international stage, and his sights are set on achieving a groundbreaking victory that would make him the first Zimbabwean model to claim the prestigious crown.

Mister Africa International Zimbabwe is a proud affiliate of the larger Mister Africa International pageant, an institution founded by the visionary Ayutonde Twitch 11 years ago in London. At its core, the pageant aims to elevate African male models and celebrate the modelling industry in all its glory. It’s a platform that spotlights talent and seeks to propel the winners onto the regional stage as they represent their beloved countries.

Nyoni told Chronicle Showbiz of his hunger to land the coveted crown and paid homage to yesteryear modelling great, Samantha Tshuma.

Samantha Tshuma

“Taking part it’s such a great opportunity for me and I feel honoured to be part of the biggest male pageant in Africa. It’s not an easy journey, trust me. Getting sponsorship especially in my city where only tourism is the real deal, it’s indeed a big challenge, but well, I will soldier on and I won’t give up for what I love and I believe I will bring the throne back home in our great Zimbabwe. 

“This opportunity will help market our tourism industry to the world. I feel I was actually born to be a model. As a young boy, I liked to look and smell good, I used to admire people in magazines and would tell myself that one day I will also appear in those. Then in 2017, I joined Open Eye Studio where I was professionally groomed by Samantha Tshuma,” he said.

Born in Hwange, but now based in Victoria Falls, Nyoni is a co-founder of Nambya Development Organisation Trust, co-founder of Party Haven Events and Supplies. His Beauty Galaxy Organisation is aimed at creating a poverty free society, with its focal point being orphans, the elderly and People living With Disabilities (PWDs). 

He lambasted the negative perceptions that people have on pageants.

To Nyoni, modelling is punching its weight and he wishes to see it level up.

“I’m looking forward to seeing modeling scaling up and receiving increased sponsorship across the country so that it becomes sustainable. Aspiring models in the country side should also get the same opportunity as those in cities to discover themselves because it appears as if it’s only meant for those in urban areas,” shared Nyoni.

Nyoni wants to make a splash in the rain and win arguably his biggest modelling accolade to date. @MbuleloMpofu