FORMER Miss Universities Zimbabwe, Valerie Gugulethu Chingonzo, has been crowned Miss World Universities Continental Queen (Africa) at the just-ended Miss World Universities won by Peru’s Kelin Rivera in Beijing China.
BY CALVIN MAHACHI
Pakistan, China and Nepal representatives clinched the first, second and third runner-up awards respectively, while Chingonzo outclassed all the African models at the pageant to scoop the African crown.
Courtesy of her victory, she automatically becomes the United Nations Peace Corps ambassador for Africa and will work with a team from the UN in spreading the gospel of peace in conflict-ridden Africa.
“I am proud of my country because all I know and did in China, (the modelling expertise and knowledge) I received it from my country. I realised that it’s not a far-fetched dream to make a mark at international level,” she said.
“My title means I am in charge of spreading peace in Africa, for example, visiting conflict regions like Nigeria, where the is Boko Haram.”
The beauty queen said this was one of the greatest moments in her life, adding that her victory was for Zimbabwe.
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She described her victory as “the best present” she has ever received ahead of her graduation from the Women’s University in Africa in October this year.
She said she was happy to be a peace ambassador for the continent and she will also advocate for ending domestic violence.
“There is an increase in gender-based violence in Zimbabwe, I will involve myself actively in the 16 days of activism and any other programmes concerning that,” she said.
Soon after she was crowned the continental queen, Valerie had an opportunity to issue a message of peace to World Miss Universities’ chairperson, Seung Min Lee.
Her picture appeared on the cover page of a South Korean magazine, the Macenat News. The last edition of the pageant was held in South Korea.
