University student handpicked to represent Zimbabwe on Miss Tourism International
By Letwin Mazarura
Miss Tourism Zimbabwe (MTZ) have crowned second-year Lupane State University student, Chipo Mandiudza as queen without holding the usual contest.
The search for the queen was cancelled in 2019 after some of the 19 finalists were injured in a road accident in Vumba on their way to Eden Lodge for a boot camp.
Without going to contest, the 21-year-old, Mandiudza studying towards a degree in marketing was hand-picked and crowned the queen on Tuesday night at a ceremony held in Bulawayo.
Mandiudza is set to represent Zimbabwe in the Miss Tourism International that will be held virtually on December 15.
Sarah Mpofu-Sibanda, who is the pageant license holder has been locked down in Australia since 2019 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, said due to pressure from Miss Tourism International, they had to choose a queen without hosting a contest.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on all industries and the beauty, fashion and modelling industry has not been spared.
” As Miss Tourism Zimbabwe we were led into a forced sabbatical of course coupled with the after effects of the 2019 MTZ horrible accident,” she said.
“In an all-fairness gesture, we decided to give a first refusal offer to the 2019 finalists.
“Consideration and engagements done, only a few responded with some unfortunately having reached the cut-off age, some married or engaged and others now mothers.”
Mpofu-Sibanda said the queen was chosen by a panel of local and international judges.
“From the few who sent in their documents and fell within the Miss Tourism International criteria for judging, a winner was identified by our highly able national and international judges,” she said.
“The judges included former beauty queens and businesswoman, Lorraine Maphala-Phiri, Nokuthaba Sibanda Manungo, Sibusisiwe Dube, who is also the chairperson of MTZ, an internationally acclaimed model based in Germany, Marble Nyathi and Godfrey Koti, a model who is currently the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority spokesperson.”
Mandiudza said it was her dream to get an opportunity to represent the country on a global ramp.
“I am overwhelmed, confused, happy and nervous. A lot of emotions are running within me. When I got the news that I was the chosen one, I was shocked, but I thought that it was my time now,” she said.
“It has always been in mind that one day I will achieve the spotlight and an opportunity to represent my country on a global stage. It was something that I had been praying for. Finally I have got it and will use it to make an impact in the lives of the youth.”
Add comment