‘Pregnancy, nude pics did not dethrone Miss Zimbabwe’

By Sharon Muguwu and Vasco Chaya

HARARE – Catherine Makaya was yesterday crowned the new Miss Zimbabwe 2014, replacing Thabiso Phiri who stepped down last Friday.

The Miss Zimbabwe 2014 was stripped of her crown, sparking frenzied speculation  that she could have failed to fulfil the obligations that go with the beauty title because of her studies, had lied about her age, had put on weight, got pregnant or was previously married, but she rejected all the accusations.

Mary Chiwenga, the Miss Zimbabwe Trust chairperson, insisted yesterday that the outgoing beauty queen was not expecting.

“I can even take her for tests, she is not pregnant, that one is out,” Chiwenga told a news conference in Eastlea yesterday.

“It will only be appropriate for her to tell you the reasons why, but it’s not pregnancy.”

The slender 22-year-old beauty queen denied accusations that she was pregnant or that she had stepped down because of nude pictures circulating on social media.

No one has witnessed evidence that would state otherwise, and the pictures she is alleged to have sent to her boyfriend do not positively identify her as they are blurred on the face.

Pageant directors passed the crown to Makaya, 21, who was in the top eight of the original pageant that was held at Mabvazuva Village on June 14.

Makaya beat three other contenders vying for the crown.

“Really, I was not expecting this,” Makaya said.

“Actually, it was on the back of my mind, but I am very glad to be the new queen.”

Makaya contested with other three models who made up the top eight — Maita Kainga, Melissa Chikerema and Rairo Gunguwo.

The dethroned 22-year-old University of Zimbabwe law student was overwhelmed with emotion during the crowning moment, breaking down as she handed over the tiara to the new beauty queen.

At the mini-pageant, the four contestants had to answer five questions posed by judges.

However, the two princesses, Tendai Hunda and Letwin Chinomona, decided not to contest as they felt “content” with the positions they currently hold.

“We felt so close to her, we had become a family and her stepping down has affected us as well,” Chinomona said.

“The reason we did not contest is that we are happy with the positions that we have.”

Chiwenga said they were going to give all the remaining prizes which Thabiso had not used to the new queen, but will honour a promise to pay her university fees. Daily News