Bulawayo beauty Queens out to dazzle Harare

The three contestants who are going to represent Bulawayo at the Miss Zimbabwe pageant have stepped up their preparations ahead of their boot camp. In an interview Miss Bulawayo, Bongani Dlakama, said they will be leaving Bulawayo on Sunday for Harare.

She said they were raring to go and they have been going through vigorous rehearsals with the Miss Bulawayo organiser Sarah Mpofu-Sibanda.

Dlakama said this year the theme of the event is "I Am Zimbabwean" and as such they will carry an ethnic look.

"That is why we have less make-up and we are trying to leave our hair as natural as possible and hopefully our natural looks will carry the day for us," she said.

Dlakama said though they will be in Harare on Sunday they were not sure when they will leave Harare for the boot camp, which will be held somewhere in Marondera.

"All we know is it will be in a remote area," Dlakama said.

In previous years the contestants were taken to various tourist destinations, so that they could have an appreciation of what the country has to offer in terms of tourism.

The first princess, Valerie Chingonzo, said they will also showcase traditional Zimbabwean dances which are in tandem with this year's theme.

"I am already working on my dance moves. I will be doing combo of Shona and Ndebele traditional dances," she said.

Another contestant, Miss Bulawayo second princess, Precious Dube, said they were going to do their level best and like their predecessors bring the crown home.

"As you know there are a number of models from here who have gone to this pageant and have not disappointed. If we do not land the crown, we will bring something from other categories like the talent show," she said.

Bulawayo has over the years produced a number of models who clinched the Miss Zimbabwe title, while some became second or first princess at the same event.

Among these are Oslie Muringai, Caroline Marufu, Lorraine Maphala and Eunah Patel.