THE Chinese government has lifted the ban it imposed on social media platform, Facebook, in support of the ongoing 65th edition of the Miss World pageant that kicked off last week in China with the arrival of the contestants for boot camp.
BY ARTS REPORTER
Zimbabwe is being represented at the global beauty pageant by Miss World Zimbabwe Annie-Grace Mutambu (19), who will fight it out with 116 other beauties from all over the world.
The winner will take over the crown from reigning Miss World, Rolene Strauss of South Africa.
The Chinese government blocked access to Facebook in the Asian country as part of its Internet censorship policy following the July 2009 Ürümqi riots after Xinjiang independence activists used Facebook as part of their communications network.
The Chinese government alleged that these social networking platforms were being used to co-ordinate protests in Xinjiang, and to spread rumours harmful to the State.
According to the Miss World Facebook page, however, the lifting of the ban was a result of the Chinese government’s deep involvement in the pageant with its grand finale to be held on December 19 at the Crown of Beauty Theatre in Sanya, China. The ban suspension will hold until December 19.
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“The Chinese President, and his family, joins the opening ceremony of Miss World every time the competition is held in the country,” read part of the statement on the Miss World Facebook page.
According to the Miss World website, the contestants would experience the exotic wonders of Sanya and Hainan Island, where they will compete in the Miss World Challenge Events ahead of the final contest.
Miss Zimbabwe Trust spokesperson Tendai Chirau told NewsDay that they had done their best in terms of grooming, as Mutambu went through a lot of routines.
Zimbabweans can follow what is happening in the boot camp on www.missworld.org.
