Miss Climate Justice crowned
TWENTY five-year-old, Fikile Ncube, a fashion student at Bulawayo Polytechnic College, was crowned Miss Climate Justice 2017 at a pageant held at Homestead Conference Centre in Bulawayo last week.
The leggy model managed to shrug off stiff competition from 18 contestants that took part in the competition. The newly crowned Miss Climate Justice said the event celebrated the involvement of women in creating awareness about climate change.
“The event was not just about winning the crown, but also a way for youths to have a positive impact on nature. Understanding and predicting how climate will change over the next century is of vital importance to both the economy and for society. It is very important for people to understand climate change which will help prepare for unbearable climate,” she said.
The beauty pageant is a brainchild of Lupane State University Climate Change Club which is funded by Trocaire, an Irish organisation that focuses on climate related issues.
Ncube said she was convinced that the event came with a lot of impact and lessons to the people.
“I want to be part of youth movement that will help maintain our environment and preserve our natural resources because a lot can be done to prevent climate change like advocating for litter-free cities,” she said.
Anelisiwe Ndebele from Open Eye Studio was crowned first princess while Nobuhle Nkala also from Bulawayo Polytechnic came second. At the judging panel was former Miss Tourism Zimbabwe and Director at Open Eye Studio, Samantha Tshuma, and Jan Mnqindi from Fingers Modelling Academy as well as two students from Lupane State University.
The event ran under the theme “Care for yourself, care for Mother Nature”. Miss Climate Justice was a campaign created to advocate for climate change within Zimbabwe’s cities while creating awareness through beauty.
During round two of the pageant, the models were asked to show the importance of Mother Nature with each contestant dressed in recycled dresses, while others wore newspapers and plastic dresses.
Ncube designed her own plastic dress, a design that was in tandem with the theme of the event. The president of the Climate change Justice Club, Milliot Chivanga said Miss Climate Change will now to be held annually, and they are hoping to continue creating awareness through beauty pageants.