Zimbabwean Based beauty crowned Miss August

It has often been said that Zimbabwe based models come second best to their counterparts based in the Diaspora in beauty contests. That assumption was proved wrong when Harare based beauty,  Angeline Mandaba won the Miss August crown for the Face of Zimbabwe competition.

Face of Zimbabwe is a highly popular international internet based pageant which seeks to promote Zimbabwe abroad. The 25 year old picture perfect beauty becomes the first finalist based in Harare in a competition in which previous monthly winners have come from Zimbabweans based in South Africa, Canada, China, USA and the United Kingdom.

In a surprising twist, the runner-up, 17 year old Ohleen Munyanyi who is based in the UK, was also announced as one of the monthly finalists filling in the slot of a previous contestant who was disqualified for failure to comply with competition's rules.  The gorgeous high school student who moved to England at the age of 9 becomes the youngest finalist in the competition.  

Face of Zimbabwe is Zimbabwe's only internet based pageant in which contestants battle it out every month to win a spot into the finals. The 12 monthly finalists will feature in Zimbabwe's Official 2012 calendar which is to be distributed worldwide.  Unlike other pageants, public votes are used to determine the top three contestants from which a panel of judges selects the winner. The judges include entertainment host, Primrose Mutsigiri, radio host, Priscilla Nalana, US based maestro Cee-Jay Besa, SA model, Melgin Tafirenyika and UK based model, Caroline Kumbukani.   

Commenting on the selection of Angeline as Miss August, Caroline Kumbukani said Angeline had shown the spirit of the Zimbabwean woman and made a convincing argument in her You-Tube video that being in Zimbabwe; she is more in touch with Zimbabwean people. A popular radio host with Zimonlineradio , Eve Parkes who interviewed Angeline commented that it was fitting that there was now a winner based in Zimbabwe which makes the competition more representative. There is no doubt that Angeline was a deserving winner, the photogenic beauty says in her profile she is a beauty therapist and is currently setting up an arts studio in Harare.  

Commenting on the selection of Ohleen Munyanyi as a runner up, Priscilla Nalana said "Ohleen is so down to earth and has such natural beauty and I think she has the qualities of someone who can go out there and represent Zimbabwe. She showed a lot of passion for her country and that's what FOZ is about." She added.

The competition's organisers have also highlighted their commitment to charity by selecting 24 underprivileged children from Epworth in Harare whom they are set to fundraise for. Each finalist has been paired with two of the children in a drive aimed at acquiring long-term sponsorship for the children to contribute towards their school fees and day to day needs.

Commenting on the fundraise, one of the Face of Zimbabwe fundraising co-ordinators Grace Mukombe said, "we are excited to be embarking on this exercise which we have called 'My Brother's Keeper' . This is our chance to show the generosity of Zimbabwean people and that we are not all about pretty faces, we want to change people's lives in a tangible way". She added, I urge all well wishers to contact us and help us make a difference."

With thousands of followers on its facebook group and a reported 2500 people voting monthly, You-tube videos and radio interviews, face of Zimbabwe competition is shaping up to be a sensation captivating millions of Zimbabweans at home and in the Diaspora, and for a change, painting a positive story of. the country to the International community. To enter the competition, register for free on Face of Zimbabwe Trust's website

Images courtesy of Mike Tashaya