Celebrating African beauty on the ramp

MODellING magnate Mercy “Catwalk” Mushaninga yesterday said a bevy of 20 models has been selected to participate in the inaugural africa Super Model 2020 beauty pageant ahead of the final casting for the con- test’s grand finale to be held online on July 4.

Mushaninga, the brains behind the pageant, told NewsDay Life & Style that the decision to hold the contest online was reached in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic that has resulted in the current national lockdown.

The pageant, whose preparations are at an advanced stage, will be streamed live from 7pm on ModelsTV channel and several other social media platforms.

Mushaninga said 12 finalists aged between 17 and 30, including Gamuchirai Munyoro (pictured), will square up for the crown at the pageant.

“We are happy with the preparations for the first edition of africa Super Model pageant which is a fusion of culture, beauty and brains.

“We have 20 talented models who have already been selected. eight will be eliminated by our judges at the show which will be held online via Zoom. We want to remain with only 12 finalists, 11 from the judges’ choices and one from people’s choice,” she said.

She said the idea behind the pageant was to celebrate the african beauty and encourage young models to love their africanness.

“We want them to feel confident about themselves in their natural hair as most models think having expensive Brazilian weaves makes them beautiful. We want to embrace our beauty, that we still look beautiful in our own hair. So, on the night the contestants will not wear weaves, braids, wigs and no hair straightener,” she said, adding that judges were currently selecting models that will showcase other talents on the ramp.