Oh, oh, oh, it’s swinging Bernadine

The Herald, May 10, 1979 DARK, vivacious Bernadine McGuire last night swung her way into the hearts of the capacity audience and judges at the Harry Margolis Hall and became The Herald’s Swinging Miss for 1979.

And no one was more surprised than the 19-year old Salisbury girl who said after the show that she was lost for words — “I am speechless with joy, I just can’t believe it,” she said.

Dressed in a shimmery skirt over a bright purple Leotard, Bernadine took part in the competition along with 19 other finalists.

Bernadine, who went to Mabelreign Girls’ High School and is now doing a secretarial course, won herself $500 from The Herald, an all-inclusive eight-day skycoast holiday for two to Durban, sponsored by Air Rhodesia and the Republic Inns of South Africa, a secretarial bursary from the Institute of Languages and a $50 gift voucher from Elle boutique.

The $ 150 second prize went to blonde Antoinette Wilkin (17), who is a top Rhodesian diver. She also won a $ 50 gift voucher from Elle and a caftan of her choice from The Oyster Shell.

University of Rhodesia student, Rita Chiyedzwa (20), won the third prize of $75.

At the show was TV personality Mike Westcott and the five judges who had the difficult job of picking the winner were TV personalities, Allan Riddell and Norman Bisby, fashion model, Connie Makaya, the Herald’s She page writer, Heather Silk, and Sportsman of the Year, Teddy Webber.

The Editor of The Herald, Mr RJ Fothergill, presented the three cheques to the winning girls and plaques to all 20 finalists.

Eight charities will benefit from the competition.

Cheques for $250 will go to the Terrorist Victims’ Relief Fund, Tsanga Lodge, the children’s home, the Highfield Society for Destitute Aged, St Giles, RESU Hopelands and the SPCA.

The outgoing Swinging Miss for 1978, Tracey Harding, presented this year’s winner with the coveted sash.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

◆ Beauty pageants can be very beneficial to the girl child because they boost the contestant’s self-confidence and self-discipline, motivation, and determination to work. ◆ On the downside, beauty contestants can lead to struggles with perfection, eating disorders, mental health and body image during

adulthood.

◆ Companies need to promote events that uplift the girl child such as beauty contests under their corporate social responsibility initiatives.