BY WINSTONE ANTONIO It IS almost everyone’s wish to live their life dreams, but sometimes for some, those dreams are shuttered before being fulfilled.
For the lucky ones, the dreams can, however, be later rekindled and this is the case for local model Eva Mzondiwa (23), who is set to catwalk on the prestigious Miss Heritage Global ramp on September 24 at the Kalahari Waterfront Nandoni in South Africa.
The pageant was founded to celebrate cultures of the world and showcase the beauty of human diversity on the ramp.
After she was crowned Miss Heritage Zimbabwe, Mzondiwa automatically booked the ticket to represent the country at the Miss Heritage Global that was to be held last year in Abuja, Nigeria.
However, her dream went up in smoke after the pageant was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The postponement left Mzondiwa a dejected queen.
Almost a year later, the world appears to be fast recovering from the jaws of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought back smiles to many, including Mzondiwa.
If all goes according to the script, on September 24, the rising and talented Chitungwiza-bred Muzondiwa will battle for the crown with a bevy of other 56 models aged between 18 and 28 at the esteemed Miss Heritage Global grand finale.
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Other contestants for the pageant will come from as far as Japan, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ghana and Algeria, among other countries.
At the pageant, Mzondiwa will represent the country’s heritage, a norm considered as a keystone of culture that plays an important role in politics, society, business and world view. It informs, influences and inspires public debate and policy both directly and indirectly.
After she was crowned Miss Heritage Zimbabwe, Mzondiwa told NewsDay Life & Style that she was optimistic to walk away with the Miss Heritage Global crown.
“I am very optimistic that I will make my nation proud. I am confident that I will bring the crown home because I have been working hard,” she said then, adding that her experience on the stage would help her win the crown.
Hopefully she still possesses the same positive attitude and enthusiasm to bring the crown home.
In a statement, Miss Heritage Global founder Ronald Tisauke said the pageant was a platform where the world meets, shares and celebrates different cultures and heritages of the world while shaping future leaders and fostering unity in diversity.
“The Miss Heritage Global is the first international beauty pageant that focuses on the promotion of diverse heritage and the only internationally recognised global pageant hosted and based in Africa,” he said.
“Our heritage provides clues to our past and how our society has evolved. It helps us examine our history and traditions and enables us to develop an awareness about ourselves. Heritage helps people understand and explain why they are who they are.”
Tisauke said the pageant would focus on culture and heritage as a tool to educate, celebrate and unite people from different parts of the world.
“The pageant month will be filled with glamour and intellectual life as the finalists will be groomed and trained. They will spread awareness through advocacy,” he said, adding that the models would be challenged with cultural fashion photoshoots and speeches on women empowerment.
“The pageant hopes to educate individuals on different cultures and heritage while embracing what makes us who we are as individuals. Contestants can look forward to experiencing Limpopo’s indigenous culture and environment,” he said.
Miss Heritage Global seeks to create culture ambassadors out of beauty queens from different cultures and backgrounds.
“The pageant brings models together to learn about the culture of the host country, share their own cultures among themselves and the people of the host country ultimately demonstrating that we can be united despite our differences.
“Not only does the organisation promote unity in cultural diversity through pageantry, but it has also established its global footprint and brand across 80 countries,” Tisauke added.
“We have created a new generation of young women who are proud of their roots, and embrace the heritage and culture of others, bringing nations together through their diversity.”
- Follow Winstone onTwitter @widzoanto
