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Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025 queens receive prizes
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The newly crowned Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025 winners were officially honoured with their prizes on Saturday, marking a key milestone in their journey toward representing Zimbabwe on the global stage later this year.
In a celebratory ceremony held in Harare, pageant director Tendai Hunda and fellow board members handed over titles and prizes to the queens, who will soon carry Zimbabwe's flag to international competitions.
Reigning queen Lyshanda Moyas was awarded a brand-new Mercedes Benz C200 and cash prizes, courtesy of Style by Minnie, as part of her grand win. She is now set to represent Zimbabwe at the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand this November.
"I have a valid driver's licence and I'm so excited for the new car. Thank you, Miss Universe Zimbabwe," said an elated Lyshanda. "I've started preparations for Thailand. Watch this space!"
The first runner-up, Onesimo Nkomo from Nkayi, will participate in the Top Model of the World contest, while second runner-up Rumbidzai Muzopa was crowned Miss International Zimbabwe and will represent the country in Japan, also in November.
While cash amounts for the runners-up were not publicly disclosed for security reasons, they walked away with generous consolation prizes from supporting sponsors. Hunda noted the importance of discretion, saying, "We want to avoid a situation where someone is followed or raided after receiving prizes."
A surprise highlight of the event was the crowning of Lisa Sibanda, the first runner-up from the 2024 edition, as Miss Cosmopolitan Zimbabwe. She will represent Zimbabwe in Vietnam this December.
Social media buzzed over the unexpected development, prompting Hunda to clarify: "We hadn't crowned Miss Cosmo Zimbabwe yet, and it is part of the Miss Universe Zimbabwe pageant. The previous queen, Sakhile Dube, couldn't be considered for the title as she had already represented Zimbabwe at Miss Universe in Mexico last year - taking part in Miss Cosmo would be a downgrade."
Hunda expressed satisfaction with the ceremony's success and praised the support from sponsors and families. "We are happy with the progress so far. Everything went according to plan, and the girls are happy too."
Importantly, all queens received their cash prizes in the presence of their parents, underlining the significance of family support in their achievements.
Preparations are now underway for Lyshanda's participation in Thailand, with Hunda confirming that logistical and training arrangements are being finalised. Former queen Sakhile Dube will take on a mentoring role, helping Lyshanda with her preparations by sharing insights from her own international pageant experience.
The event not only celebrated the accomplishments of the queens but also showcased Zimbabwe's growing presence in global beauty competitions. It underlined themes of empowerment, ambition, and national pride - a message resonating far beyond the pageant itself.
As the queens begin their journeys, Zimbabwe watches with hope and pride, eager to see them shine on the world stage.
In a celebratory ceremony held in Harare, pageant director Tendai Hunda and fellow board members handed over titles and prizes to the queens, who will soon carry Zimbabwe's flag to international competitions.
Reigning queen Lyshanda Moyas was awarded a brand-new Mercedes Benz C200 and cash prizes, courtesy of Style by Minnie, as part of her grand win. She is now set to represent Zimbabwe at the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand this November.
"I have a valid driver's licence and I'm so excited for the new car. Thank you, Miss Universe Zimbabwe," said an elated Lyshanda. "I've started preparations for Thailand. Watch this space!"
The first runner-up, Onesimo Nkomo from Nkayi, will participate in the Top Model of the World contest, while second runner-up Rumbidzai Muzopa was crowned Miss International Zimbabwe and will represent the country in Japan, also in November.
While cash amounts for the runners-up were not publicly disclosed for security reasons, they walked away with generous consolation prizes from supporting sponsors. Hunda noted the importance of discretion, saying, "We want to avoid a situation where someone is followed or raided after receiving prizes."
A surprise highlight of the event was the crowning of Lisa Sibanda, the first runner-up from the 2024 edition, as Miss Cosmopolitan Zimbabwe. She will represent Zimbabwe in Vietnam this December.
Social media buzzed over the unexpected development, prompting Hunda to clarify: "We hadn't crowned Miss Cosmo Zimbabwe yet, and it is part of the Miss Universe Zimbabwe pageant. The previous queen, Sakhile Dube, couldn't be considered for the title as she had already represented Zimbabwe at Miss Universe in Mexico last year - taking part in Miss Cosmo would be a downgrade."
Hunda expressed satisfaction with the ceremony's success and praised the support from sponsors and families. "We are happy with the progress so far. Everything went according to plan, and the girls are happy too."
Importantly, all queens received their cash prizes in the presence of their parents, underlining the significance of family support in their achievements.
Preparations are now underway for Lyshanda's participation in Thailand, with Hunda confirming that logistical and training arrangements are being finalised. Former queen Sakhile Dube will take on a mentoring role, helping Lyshanda with her preparations by sharing insights from her own international pageant experience.
The event not only celebrated the accomplishments of the queens but also showcased Zimbabwe's growing presence in global beauty competitions. It underlined themes of empowerment, ambition, and national pride - a message resonating far beyond the pageant itself.
As the queens begin their journeys, Zimbabwe watches with hope and pride, eager to see them shine on the world stage.
Source - The Herald
