Mr Ugly competition coming to the City of Kings and Queens

BULAWAYO is regarded as a City of Kings and Queens. Kings and queens are never considered ugly.

That is why the rising phenomenon of seeking the ugliest man in the country has mainly gained popularity in Harare, Beitbridge, and Masvingo, among other cities.

Harare-based William Masvinu, who hails from Masvingo, retained the crown this year.  By asserting his dominance he may have sent a message that it could be time to turn to other corners of the country in the hunt for a worthy competitor.

It is against this background that organisers of the event feel that maybe among the kings in Bulawayo, there might be some who are ugly enough to wrest the crown from Masvinu, hence the idea of bringing the competition to the city next year.

The Mr Ugly show initially started as a social event in Beitbridge and subsequently found its way to Mutare and Harare but will now feature in Bulawayo in April next year.

David Machowa, popularly known as Apama in entertainment circles, confirmed to Sunday Leisure that the pageant would be held in the City of Kings early next year.

Machowa said sponsors had shown interest in the show and were willing to back the little-known event in Bulawayo, a city he said was a hub of entertainment hence high hopes that the show would be a success.

"We are going to spread the event to the City of Kings, where we think it will get much support as the city is a hub of entertainment. We believe from what we have seen in Harare and Mutare, there are chances that we can get a positive response from the crowd," he said.

As odd as the event is, Machowa believes that the idea is feasible and will attract the same audience that has seen the show grow in leaps and bounds in its three years of existence.

The pageant only has three sponsors, who are Chinopokei Furnitures, Lisel Investment and Goly Bakeries, companies that are based in Mutare.

"Our sponsors have shown a high level of dedication and want to extend the show to Bulawayo. We are not only planning to extend it to Bulawayo, but other parts of the country where we hope to have a positive response as well," he said.

Lady luck continues to smile on Machowa as the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) has played a significant role in supporting the Mr Ugly pageant.

"We were fortunate to have the backing of the NACZ. Every pageant starts at a certain stage, and the body has been supporting us extensively since the inception of the show. We are growing slowly, but with time, the show will be big," he said.

It is expected that this time around, a national pageant will not suffer a still birth but see the light of day.

Sarah Mpofu of Fingers Modelling Academy said Mr Ugly might be a huge success in Bulawayo as it had attracted interest in other cities.

People in Bulawayo always complain of being sidelined and Mpofu said such an event would attract a crowd that is longing for something unique and different.

"You never know until you try something new, and I believe that it will work. If it has been successful in other regions, then it should be worthwhile in Bulawayo. There has been an outcry from people of Bulawayo who want something new and unique, and Mr Ugly is a feasible idea that can work.

"I definitely believe it is something that will work, and we are expecting more of such events," she said.

Commenting on the issue, Briaton Takundwa, who is the founder of the Miss Environment Zimbabwe and fashion designer based in Bulawayo, said he expected the event to be welcomed in Bulawayo.

The show, he said, was unique and given that Bulawayo was starved of events, people would attend the pageant.

"It is creativity in some sense, and given that it is different, people are expected to attend the event. What really matters is that the event gives self-esteem to those that think they would never make it to a pageant," he said.

It appears all is in place for the hunt for another king in the City of Kings.