By Sharon Muguwu
HARARE- Twenty-two-year-old Thabiso Phiri was crowned Miss Zimbabwe 2014 on Saturday evening during a colourful pageant held at Harare’s Mabvazuva Village.
Thabiso, who hails from Chitungwiza, shrugged off the challenge from first princess Letwin Chinomona, second princess Tendai Hunda and 12 other beauties.
The People’s Choice Award went to Maita Kainga who was voted for by the rest of the nation who watched the glitzy show on ZTV.
Nineteen-year-old Martha Mangwaira was crowned Miss Legs at the pageant that reportedly gobbled $500 000.
Conspicuous by her absence was Miss Zimbabwe 2012 Bongani Dhlakama who strangely was sidelined by the Mary Chiwenga-led Miss Zimbabwe Trust.
But the night, graced by 450 specially invited senior military figures, government ministers and top businessmen, belonged to Thabiso who has become a regular winner on the Zimbabwean beauty pageant scene in the last few years.
Thabiso took part in the first edition of the Carnival Queen pageant where she was crowned Miss Heritage 2013 in the beauty contest in which Dananai Chipunza walked away with the Miss Carnival title.
On Saturday night amidst the glitz and glamour, Thabiso was clearly the crowd favourite judging by the cheers she attracted every time her name was called out.
Just like in the 2012 edition of Miss Zimbabwe, members of the Zimbabwe National Army were involved in crowning the winner who will represent Zimbabwe at the Miss World pageant to be held in London in December.
Other girls who made it into the top eight were Maita Kainga, Catherine Makaya, Melissa Chikerema, Tendai Hunda, Rairo Gunguwo, Letwin Tiwaringe and Letwin Chinomona.
After the question and answer segment three were chopped off including another crowd favourite Rairo Gunguwo whose failure to answer a few questions undermined her passage into the top five.
The top five were Letwin Chinomona, Thabiso Phiri, Tendai Hunda, Melissa Chikerema and Catherine Makaya.
The judges panel was made up of South Africa-based businessman Frank Buyanga, businessman Kamal Khalfan, France’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Laurent Delahousse, Shirley Chingoka, Laywer Wellington Pasipanodya and Melody Chikomwe.
Miss Zimbabwe 2014, which was attended exclusively by 450 invited guests, turned out to be an event for Zimbabwe’s political and military elite as well as top business people.
Other people in attendance included the guest of honour, Environment, Water and Climate minister Saviour Kasukuwere who was accompanied by his wife, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Walter Mzembi who came with his wife Barbara as well as Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Constantine Chiwenga who was supporting his wife Mary, the chairperson of Miss Zimbabwe Trust.
Also at the swanky event was Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Chief Executive Officer, Karikoga Kaseke along with the Carnival Queen Gamuchirai Kujeke and Miss Carnival 2013 Dananai Chipunza. Daily News
