MISS Zimbabwe 2011, Malaika Mashandu, has been appointed brand ambassador for Gtel Face of Zimbabwe (FOZ) beauty contest ahead of the pageant’s finals slated for December 15 in Harare. Report by Tinashe Sibanda Entertainment Reporter
Mashandu will front FOZ’s marketing campaign in addition to grooming finalists and conducting street casting sessions for contestants.
The talented model said she was grateful for her new role.
“There are some beautiful girls vying for this title and I can’t wait to get started and lend my help,” said Mushandu.
Cape Town-based beauty Bianca Mpopoma was recently voted Miss September in the pageant’s preliminaries.
The 21-year-old model is one of 12 finalists who will square up for the 2012 crown.
Mpopoma attributed her success to hard work and an effective campaign strategy spearheaded by her manager Andrew Tatenda Nhema.
“I feel humbled to have been crowned Miss September in this tightly-contested pageant. As part of my charity work, I will be launching my project titled ‘Bianca’s Billion Dollar Girl Club’,” said Mpopoma.
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She said the project would focus on training young girls entrepreneurship skills.
Her campaign manager said Mpopoma had a vision that connected her to most of her voters.
“She is passionate to have young girls in schools trained to manage their pocket money through forming cash clubs and from their contributions, invest to start income-generating projects,” said Nhema.
Launched last year to promote Zimbabwean models in the country and abroad, FOZ has attracted wide interest internationally.
Previous monthly winners of the contest have come from countries like China, the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and Zimbabwe.
The pageant selects a finalist every month through public votes and internal adjudication. The 12 monthly finalists compete for the final crown at the end of every year.
Last year, the monthly finalists played a critical role in marketing Zimbabwe’s tourist destinations globally. They sourced funds to assist orphans in Epworth, Harare.
FOZ marketing director Mike Tashaya said: “We are looking forward to putting together an event of international standards, showcasing the best of Zimbabwe’s beauty and tourism.”
