HARARE - Miss Diversity, an annual beauty pageant founded by Bulawayo-born Musa James and Nollywood actress Samantha Ncube two years ago in the United Kingdom, will hold its second edition in Birmingham on July 5.
The pageant, which aims to bring together beautiful women from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds, was won by South African Ntombi Shibambo last year with Zimbabweans Mitchell Ncube and Cecelia Kupera coming second and third respectively.
James, one of the organisers of the pageant based in Birmingham, is delighted that six Zimbabweans will be among 15 beauties aged between 17 and 29 who will battle it out for this year’s title.
“It is great that our compatriots form the bulk of the participants competing for this year’s title,” James told the Daily News.
“We feel good that fellow Zimbabweans will be part of our pageant that allows women from different cultural background to showcase their beauty while at the same time promoting and celebrating cultural diversity.”
The Zimbabweans who are in the running for this year’s title are Nomonde Khupe (20), Sithembinkosi Mudumo (25), Ashley Garaiza (19), Ashleigh Widzisa (21), Melisa Mnyulwa (21) and Jacqualine Moyo (21).
Musa is confident that the Zimbabwean women will shrug off the challenge from fellow competitors who hail from the United Kingdom, Indonesia and Sierra Leone.
“Hopefully one among the Zimbabweans will be good enough to land the title and replace the inaugural Miss Diversity beauty queen Ntombi Shibambo from South Africa,” said James, an event manager by profession.
“Entertainment at this year’s pageant will be provided by Ghanaian artistes Ras Bobo King and Shatta Wale as well as United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean gospel rap singer Lament Chitepo.”
The winner of the pageant will get the chance to compete for the Miss United Nations World title next year and the Miss Diversity International title in New Zealand later this year.
James and Ncube, who are very happy with the achievements they have made in the United Kingdom, have decided to bring the Miss Diversity beauty pageant to their hometown Bulawayo next year.
“Miss Diversity Beauty Pageant is growing big and better. There will be Miss Diversity Zimbabwe on April 25 in Bulawayo next year. We are already in the process of looking for sponsors, volunteers and models. We wish to take Miss Diversity to all corners of the world,” said James.