By Martin Muleya
MUTARE, Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – The search for the Miss Tourism Manicaland started in earnest a fortnight ago with at least more than 15 models expressing interest at the auditions held at ZTA offices.
The models who were mostly appearing for the first time said their desire to take part in this prestigious competition was inspired by the reigning Miss Tourism Manicaland who also doubles as Miss Tourism national.
The twenty-six year old beauty queen Tafadzwa Jaricha who is a lawyer by profession, made headlines last year in September when she shocked many by clinching the national title at competition held in Bulawayo and became a proud owner of brand new silver S540 Mercedes Benz.
This historic moment became a yardstick of modelling in the 21st century that beauty is no longer only the ticket to stardom but it has to be accompanied with brains.
This is a point that the reigning Miss University of Zimbabwe first princess Rutendo Mafuratidze emphasised in an interview with News of The South.
The 20 year political science student said during the two week auditions sh came to the realisation that knowledge on current affairs was also vital.
She highlighted that even if she fails to be part of the crème da crème she would be grateful to have taken part in a beauty pageant that has of late been rated the benchmark of success in the modelling industry of this generation.
“All my life I have been led to believe that beauty is all it takes to make it in the modelling industry. But realisation dawned on me when I participated in the Miss Tourism Manicaland auditions 2019. The stigma had been planted from generation to generation and I am happy that the auditions defied the odds.
Tension was sizzling in the waiting room as each model realised they had more to prove other than just their looks doing it for them. The realisation that knowledge on current affairs was vital dawned on us all that day.
At this point, clarity on current affairs was our only comfort. The auditions were an eye opener that resulted in me seeing the world in a new perspective and for that I am grateful. Even if I don’t make it as one of the provincial finalists, I will always be grateful for that gift…the gift of knowing what matters most in life,” said the bubbling Mafuratidze with confidence.
For Tinashe Madondo who is also a varsity student, the Miss Tourism Manicaland auditions were not jus a stroll in the park. She confided in this reporter that the experience was so nerve wrecking because she had never had the confidence to participate in pageants of this magnitude.
“Generally I would say it was a nerve wrecking experience for me. I had always wanted to take part in this pageant but never really had the confidence to do so. But finally I have made it to the auditions and I think before then I was not really as bad as I thought though the anxiety disorders kept on kicking, said Matondo.
Miss Tourism Manicaland provincial licence holder Caroline Marufu Buwu said she was happy with the turnout of the models in the second edition of Miss Tourism Manicaland.
She appealed to corporate companies to come on board and partner in sponsoring the pageant as well as marketing tourism in the eastern border province of the country.
” Our auditions went very well. The ladies started off really slow during the first wkend but the numbers rose during the second weekend of the auditions. We are looking for a total of 15 finalists, three of which will represent the province at the national finals. We are also appealing to corporates and individuals alike to come on board and partner with us and help us in promoting tourism in Manicaland as well as empowering the girl child,” she said.
This year’s provincial finals will be held in the resort town of Nyanga on the 27th of July, at Montclair Hotel. Last year the provincial finals were held at Golden Peacock hotel where Life Matunzeni was crowned first princess and Silethemba Maphosa from Manicaland University of Applied Sciences was crowned second princess while Jaricha was crowned the queen.
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