Miss Zimbabwe stepped down due to leaked indecent photos

Miss Zimbabwe Thabiso Phiri, who stepped down from the prestigious position last Friday, is said to have resigned after photographs she took of herself undressed went viral over the last three days.

Sources to 'The Sunday Mail' on Saturday said Miss Phiri photographed herself and sent the images to her lover, who in turn allegedly leaked them via social media platforms.

In one of the photographs seen by the state newspaper, the 22-year-old beauty features topless.

The circumstances of her resignation were kept under wraps on Friday, but it is understood she stepped down to protect the reputation of the Miss Zimbabwe Trust ahead of the Miss World pageant.

She was only a month into her reign and her replacement will represent Zimbabwe at Miss World pageant in England.

Miss Phiri could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

"Phiri has stepped down due to the n*de pictures she took and sent her boyfriend," said the source, preferring anonymity.

Miss Phiri becomes the second beauty queen in the history of the pageant to step down before ending her reign after Miss Linda Van Beek in 2003 due to pregnancy. Rules governing the pageant dictate that the beauty queen cannot continue if she falls pregnant. She is also not supposed to have conceived before her reign.

Apart from the Miss Zimbabwe contest, Miss Phiri took part in the first edition of Carnival Queen and was crowned Miss Heritage 2013.

Her case is almost similar to that of Miss America 1984 Vanessa Williams, who was stripped of the title after her similar pictures were published in adult publication Penthouse Magazine.