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Tafadzwa Zimoyo   Harare Bureau

With only five days to go, the countdown to the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico is well underway, and Zimbabwe’s hopes are pinned on Sakhile Dube, who will represent the nation on this global stage.

Set to take place at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City on November 16, the glitzy event will air live for Central African viewers at 4am on November 17.

Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua will crown her successor in a grand finale hosted by US television personality Mario Lopez, with commentary from Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and a star-studded panel, including Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza and South African Miss Universe alum Margaret Gardiner.

Musical icons Shakira and the Black Eyed Peas are set to electrify the stage, setting an upbeat tone for the competition. In addition to a dazzling line-up of performances, 130 contestants from across the globe are already hard at work, navigating rehearsals and competing in various events such as personal interviews, evening gowns, and swimwear showcases.
Zimbabwe’s Sakhile Dube, who has captured the hearts of fans worldwide, is poised as one of the top contenders, widely recognised as “Africa’s front-runner”. From her arrival 13 days ago, she has wowed both fans and fellow contestants with her poise, style, and engaging personality. Social media has been buzzing with support as fans praise her elegance, drawing attention to her meticulously crafted looks and her collaboration with top designers.

A veteran on the pageant circuit, the 28-year-old holds titles such as Miss Supranational Africa 2023, Supranational Top Model, Miss Earth Zimbabwe (2022), and Miss Tourism Zimbabwe, making her a seasoned competitor on the international stage.

The Miss Universe pageant will also feature a separate “Miss Universe Africa” title, adding another layer of competition as Dube faces strong contenders from Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, and Mauritius.

In preparation for Miss Universe, Dube received training in Italy for her runway walk and undertook speech therapy with renowned experts back home.

Zimbabweans have been called to show support by voting for Dube to secure her spot in the top 30.

The Miss Universe Zimbabwe national director, Tendai Hunda, expressed confidence in Dube’s preparation and thanked stakeholders for their support.
“We’re very confident in Sakhile, and this is a proud moment for Zimbabwe. With continued support, we can make history,” she said.

As the final days approach, anticipation is high, with hopes that Dube will make an impact not only for herself but for the Zimbabwean modelling industry.