A dream that finally came true

18 Sep, 2022 - 00:09 0 Views
A dream that finally came true

The Sunday Mail

Veronica Gwaze and Dennis Chimanzi  

In a space of eight months, she transformed from a shy daughter of a nomadic agricultural extension officer to a feted queen.

The crowning moment took place at the Harare International Conference Centre as Charlotte Muziri shrugged off competition from 11 other contestants.

She emerged strong and was crowned the inaugural Miss Zimbabwe Queen 2022.

For her victory, she walked away with a Volkswagen Polo vehicle and a makeup kit. She also secured a holiday in Cape Town.

Award-winning model and media personality Gina Mutemeri and fashion designer-cum-musician Stacey Hall emerged the first and second princesses respectively.

Although the 25-year-old Muziri had since childhood longed to take up pro- professional modelling, the fantasy, for long, remained a mere New Year’s resolution. For years, she wanted to pursue the dream, but seemed not to know how

to turn it into reality.

The Chivi born queen recalls, as a child, cat-walking for her late grandmother, who went on to nickname her Malaika, a Kiswahili word that means angel.

But she never had the courage to participate in any pageants or modelling shows during her days at Holy Cross High School in Chirumhanzu.

Even when she proceeded to the University of Zimbabwe, where she later graduated with a Bsc Honours degree in Rural and Urban Planning, she simply let all pageants slide by.

Having seemingly ‘forgotten’ about her modelling dream, Muziri went on to secure a job as a letting officer at Guest and Tanner Real Estate.

During her spare time, she would co-author academic articles on envi- ronmental sustainability.

“I never participated in any competition despite it being my New Year’s resolution for years. However, in January (this year), I told myself that I needed to do something about it,” she said.

She then enrolled for grooming lessons.

Through the classes, her self-confidence was boosted and art perfected.

She then took part in the Makanaka Fashion Show, held at Sam Levy’s Village in Borrowdale, Harare, a few weeks ago. Success in the competition gave Muziri the courage to take part in the Miss

Zimbabwe Queen pageant.

Her mother, Josephine Chigura, was surprised with her confidence considering it was just a few months after she had turned professional.

“I once briefly worked in Bulawayo and one of my employers always encouraged her to take up modelling because of her structure. We then moved to Mvuma and her dream seemed to shatter because there was no modelling there,” revealed Muziri’s mother.

“For me, seeing her on the Miss Zimbabwe Queen stage was a fulfilment of a long-standing dream. However, I did not imagine she would win.

“A top five finish would have been enough for me. When she was announced the winner, I thought I had not heard correctly; I still feel I’m dreaming.”

The model said she was surprised by her victory.

“When I went on the stage for the Miss Zimbabwe Queen trials, the idea was just to have a feel of the environment and then, maybe, take part in later events,” Muziri told The Sunday Mail Society.

She recalls initially rocking a natural look because she did not know how to apply makeup.

“Looking at the crown and imagining where I came from, it feels like a dream. I entered the pageant just to have a feel of it. It never crossed my mind that I would win.”

After making it to the top 12, she, at one point, thought of giving up as she felt heavily outclassed by other contestants.

So bad was the situation that she contemplated quitting.

“I felt like the other ladies were better than me. They were beautiful, intelligent, knew how to do their own makeup, among other things, and that made me feel I did not belong there,” she recounted.

Change of lifestyle

When Muziri started her grooming lessons, a lot had to change in her lifestyle.

To be in shape, she joined a fitness class and adopted a strict diet, which meant consuming little or no starch every day.

The queen would also create time to watch other pageants from across the globe.

This, she notes, helped her under- stand the fundamentals of modelling etiquette.

“I spent most of my life in rural areas where my mother worked, so I had little knowledge on such stages. I have a lot to learn from others. The crown means I am now a role model and an inspiration to many out there. I need to adjust and be careful in all I do or say.

“The title is a huge responsibility, I am now obliged to speak on behalf of many youths, live an exemplary life and be a peer educator.”

With her sights now set on the inter-national stage, she is aware of the major areas she needs to improve on.

She reckons she has to work on her poise and appearance, as well as lose a little weight to fit in internationally.

“My uncle now monitors my diet. One of my workmates also keeps me on my toes and even supplies me with eggs daily,” she added.

“I thank God for my naturally beautiful skin. I don’t need expensive or special cosmetics.”

With her newly acquired status also comes a busy daily schedule. She has to balance work, social life, media interviews and academic writings.

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