Melissa Chikerema crowned Bob’s beauty

HARARE – Melissa Chikerema is this year’s Miss 21st February Movement after she beat 28 other contenders at a glittering event held in Rainbow Towers’ Jacaranda Room over the weekend. The pageant is meant to celebrate Mugabe’s birthday movement.

The executive secretarial student at Trust Academy won a whopping US$3 000 plus a return air ticket courtesy of Air Zimbabwe to a regional destination of her choice. The 21-year-old beauty from Mashonaland Central impressed the judges, among them former Miss Zimbabwe Malaika Mushandu.

Tariro Mani was crowned first princess and she pocketed US$2 500, while Primrose Charehwa got US$2 000 for being the second princess. Chipo Dete was crowned Miss Personality and Nelisiwe Nhare was picked as the people’s choice.

But Melissa oozed with confidence as she glided on the ramp amid cheers from the audience in traditional wear and night wear. While other models stumbled during the question and answer segment, for Melissa it was an easy walk in the park.

“Well, I prepared so much for the pageant and I was expecting nothing but a win. However the competition was tough because all the other contestants were beautiful, he said, adding that, “As the Miss 21st, I want to engage young women to register to vote and I also want women to take advantage of the opportunities of empowerment that the nation is giving to the girl child.”

Besides thrills on the ramp, there were standout performances by ExQ, Shinsoman and Mudiwa Mtandwa of the “Ndaita Mari” fame.