MISS Heritage pageant has been delisted from the Zimbabwe Model Awards nominations scheduled for August 30 following it’s takeover by South African investors led by Nhlanhla Shabangu in the wake of co-founder Taremeredzwa Munzara’s resignation.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
The pageant was nominated in the most promising beauty pageant category at the awards organised by Zim Gossip Modelling Agency founder Mercy Mushaninga.
Mushaninga — who organised the awards in partnership with the Sport, Arts and Culture ministry— confirmed to NewsDay early this week that the pageant had been automatically disqualified as it was no longer owned by a Zimbabwean.
“Zimbabwe Model Awards are meant for Zimbabwean models and pageant organisers and if someone is not a Zimbabwean there is no need to award that person as it is not promoting our nation,” Mushaninga said.
“From the information communicated to us, Miss Heritage is now owned by a South African after Tare resigned on May 29 and handed over the pageant.”
The awards ceremony will be held at the Harare International Conference Centre with an A-list judges’ panel including Sport, Arts and Culture deputy minister Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga and United Kingdom-based model Nyasha Matonhodze of the Louis Vutton fame.
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“Our panel of judges is being headed by Sport, Arts and Culture deputy minister Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga. United Kingdom-based model Nyasha Matonhodze of Louis Vutton fame will also grace the event and share her experience in the modelling industry. All the nominees will have interviews on the red carpet and will sit according to their categories.”
Mushaninga said the awards were meant to honour pundits in the fashion and modelling industry for their contribution to the sector, adding that preparations were now at an advanced stage with some models from foreign countries having already arrived.
“We saw it appropriate to honour several people who have done great things in their respective areas to uplift the face of the fashion and modelling as well as various arts sectors,” she said.
Mushaninga said winners at the red carpet event would walk away with special prizes as they have partnered with different stakeholders, among them mobile manufacturer G-Tel and Unilever to make the event a success.
Models who have flown the country’s flag high since 1980 will be honoured.
