Beauty queen eyes fashion scene

By Tafadzwa Zimoyo

Stunning beauty Cynthia Mafumhe (22) was voted this year’s winner of the Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe (BOFOZ) contest which was held at the Rainbow Towers a week ago and saw her outclassing a bevy of 15 models who were also vying for the coveted crown.

The University of Zimbabwe pharmacy student proved that she has both the looks and the brains to take her far in her career as evidenced by her fine run at the contest that saw her walking away with a whopping $8 000 in prize money.

In an interview the vivacious model was over the moon following her excellent show at the BOFOZ whose aim is to promote beauty through the use of Black Opal cosmetics.

She said she was going to start a fashion business and buy a car with her prize money.

“I am happy, and I attribute everything to God through my church World of Life International based in Belvedere. I have started researching on the shipping costs, tax and duty (for the car).

“The car will enable me to run my fashion business smoothly. I deal in shoes, handbags, hair and other related accessories, which is my natural passion,” said the model, who will complete her studies this year.

Cynthia, who has lived in some of Zimbabwe’s largest cities which include Masvingo – where she was born – and Gweru, said she invested a lot of time and effort in her preparations for the pageant, a feat which saw her going to as far as Mutare just to have the right kind of make-up coaching she desired.

She said social media also played an important role in her preparations.

“I used social media through mobilising people via WhatsApp for my votes. Before that, I also went to Mutare for my make-up coaching mainly in the area of eyebrows which are a standout part of every professional model’s power-points.

“My success would not have been possible without the support of Premier Services Pharmaceuticals, who offered me attachment and I also received some professional advice from some medical doctors whom I also asked to vote for me,” she said.

Raised by a family of serious professionals – a father who works at Gweru District Administration and a mom who is at Mkoba Teachers’ College – it is no wonder that Cynthia had to use all these links and exposure to adequately prepare herself for the task ahead, which was to win the crown by all means necessary.

“I wasn’t sure of the judges’ votes and what the outcome would be, but judging from the crowd’s response, it later became clear to me that I was their favourite and that is when I became very confident that I was going to make it,” said the beauty queen, who started modelling in high school.

She said it was a stiff competition considering how other models looked.But what does she plan to do, now that she has scooped the crown, and the money is in her purse?

“My next plan is to use my cosmetic knowledge to advance the beauty industry in Zimbabwe and also start a project on anti-acne formulation.

“But that does not mean that I now walk in the clouds. I am still the same girl and I shall stay as humble as always. I acknowledge the presence of God in my life, beauty is closer to God, hence my decision to get into the cosmetics industry,” she said. The Herald