Search for Miss Curvy begins

Photo courtesy of zimbojam

Over 50 women from across the country have already registered for this year’s Miss Curvy Zimbabwe which is set to take place in Harare on October 20. Organiser of the event, Mercy Mushaninga of Catwalk management agency, said registration of participants was ongoing and the response has so far been good.

She said curvy women aged between 19 and 34 were being accepted for the event, which runs under the name Ngoda Models.
“We are looking for Zimbabwean models that are naturally curvy, not just big or fat people,” said Mushaninga.

She said the pageant was launched last year after the realisation that most women shy away from modelling because of the perception that the profession was for tall and slender women.

“Being curvy should not be taken as a liability,” Mushaninga said. “Such people should take this opportunity to showcase their gift.”

She said the agency was currently looking for strategic partners and had so far secured a few “serious” sponsors, including the Egyptian Embassy which pledged a trip to the North African country for winning models. Red Rose Hair Salon has also pledged to take care of the models’ hairdos, she said.

Mushaninga said if the organisers managed to secure more sponsors, the prize money for the winner would be raised from last year’s US$2 000. She said her agency was also working with clothing designers who were making outfits for the models. Mushaninga bemoaned the fact that Zimbabweans still underrated the modelling industry.

“It is saddening to note that modelling, despite being a money making industry that can even improve the Gross Domestic Product of any country, is still underrated,” she said. “We need the corporate world’s support in every way possible.”

Mushaninga took a swipe at unregistered models who she said were tarnishing the image of the catwalk sector, through their bad behaviour.