By Beverly Bizeki
Masvingo Province has for the past few years made headlines in the modelling industry with its youngsters winning on international pageants and has hosted its first ever pageant for young models, Mr and Miss Junior Jewels of Masvingo recently at the Charles Austin Theatre.
Event organiser Tajae Mwenda said the motive behind the pageant was to make a positive impact in the lives of young models while trying to make them reach their full potential.
“Inspiring others makes me incredibly happy, especially when it is youngsters that is why I started Mr and Miss Junior Jewels of Masvingo to make a positive impact in the lives of the upcoming models and help them reach their full potential.
“I am overwhelmed with emotions and gratitude as I reflect on the successes of our inaugural Mr and Miss Junior Jewels of Masvingo pageant. The talented participants left me speechless with their captivating performances and seeing the joy on their parents’ faces was truly heartwarming.
“Although we did not have any sponsors for our first edition, our team’s creativity and dedication made it a unique and memorable experience. We are already looking to next year’s event and are excited to build on this momentum,” said Mwenda.
Speaking at the event, Masvingo Permanent Secretary of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa said the event was timely in nurturing young talent.
“Organisers of this event have made the cliché, ‘catch them young’ a reality rather than empty and rhetoric. This is in the letter and spirit of the mantra leaving no one and no place behind under the second republic. I call upon all relevant stakeholders to continue nurturing these young talents as children can make a living out of modelling. It can be a career on its own,” said Dr Pazvakavambwa.
Dr Pazvakavambwa further urged parents at the gathering to join hands in the fight against the new scourge of drug and substance abuse that was affecting children.
“Whilst a lot of good things and development are happening in our good country, we should take note and be alert to the new scourge of drug and substance abuse ravaging our communities and threatening to destroy our all the giants that we have made as a country among our children. It is sad to note that children as young as 9, 10 or 11 years are already indulging in drugs. It takes a whole community to raise a child, let us embrace the ‘Your Child is My Child’ philosophy which is embedded in our culture,” said Dr Pazvakavambwa.
For the teen queen, Nobukhosi Sibanda (11) won the first position, while Nicole Saurosi(12) was crowned first princess. Kunashe (14) was crowned Teen King while Moreblessing (12) and Prince Piet Mashala were crowned first and second runner up respectively.
Shumirai Mudyanadzo(9) was crowned mini queen while Monalisa Mandikiyana (11) and Kayla Marufu (7) were first and second runner up. Rodney Gombakomba (8) was crowned mini king while Martin Mazorodze (7) and Shayne Mashala (8) were first and second runner up.
Delsa was crowned tiny queen while Angel Chirindo (3) and Pearl (6) were first and second runner ups. For the tiny king category Tawananyasha Mudyanadzo (6) won first position while Desmond Mapfidza (5) won first runner up.
Masvingo has had two of its young models both from Victoria High School winning Toto Miss Africa Zimbabwe pageant with one of the two girls Dillish Masango winning the pageant at the Toto Africa pageant in Nigeria where she was crowned second runner up.
The reigning Toto Miss Africa Zimbabwe, Nothando Gugulethu Sibanda will represent the country in Egypt next year.
