Bathabile to represent Bulawayo in Carnival Queen Zim contest

SHE is charismatic, confident and passionate at what she does.

She was recently crowned first princess at the Miss National University of Science and Technology (Nust) beauty contest and is set to represent the city at the Carnival Queen Zimbabwe contest taking place in Harare next month.

She is a presenter of Plan High School Drama competitions on ZBCtv and a media studies student who has a passion for modelling. Her name is Bathabile Dlamini.

After taking part at high school beauty pageants, the first year Media and Journalism student decided to take her passion to a higher level. It seems the 22 year-old unheralded model has what it takes as she was eventually crowned first princess at the institution's beauty contest.

Saturday Leisure spoke to the soft spoken model to share her modelling and life history.

"Ever since I was young, I hated my height so much as I felt I was too tall. A friend convinced me to utilise my weakness to my advantage and that is how I ventured into the modelling industry," she said.

Dlamini said she took part in a number of pageants at high school and would fair well most of the time.

"I am a very confident person because I am not afraid of the crowd. I ignore what people say when I am on stage," she said confidently.

The Tyra Banks inspired model said she believed she would be one of the best models in the country.

"I am inspired by Dananai Chipunza (reigning Carnival Queen Zimbabwe) who has managed to stay out of the limelight and concentrate on her charity work. That is how I wish to be. I want to stay out of trouble and controversy as I serve the community," said Dlamini.

The aspiring journalist said she had received so much support from her mother and academically inspired by Nust lecturer Nqobile Nyathi whom she described as a very hard working woman.