REIGNING Miss Africa Zimbabwe Ayanda Sibanda is set to represent the nation at this year’s edition of Miss Africa Queen set for December 27 in Calabar, southern Nigeria.
At the pageant, the 22-year-old, Sibanda, who lives with albinism, will battle for the crown against a bevy of 20 other African contestants.
Miss Africa is an environmental pageant that advocates for environmental protection and conservation as well as an eco-friendly lifestyle.
This year’s pageant will be running under the theme Agro-Industrialisation.
The multi-award-winning Sibanda was selected to represent the country after a preliminary nationwide search competition hosted by the Hundah Group that was followed by public online voting in which she emerged the winner.
As she awaits the international pageant, Sibanda told NewsDay Life & Style that she has been doing philanthropic work.
“As Miss Africa Zimbabwe I had the opportunity to work with Centre for Total Transformation as a brand ambassador working with single mothers and widows through their programme,” she said.
“I have also worked with the Netherlands embassy and the United Nations Women Zimbabwe as a gender champion.”
As part of Miss Africa Queen search, the public is privileged to choose the queen through the currently open online voting platform, with the judges having the ultimate decision on the grand finale.
The winner will be chosen from performances in different categories that will take place during boot camp and on the competition day.
A final year law student at the University of Zimbabwe, Sibanda is confident that she will bring the crown home.
“The opportunity to participate at the Miss Africa Queen will amplify my advocacy among an audience of many,” she said.
“This will not only allow me to grow my brand in Zimbabwe, but in Africa as well, while working with an organisation that is deeply rooted in giving young women a platform to advocate for environmental conservation and sustainability.”
Besides modelling, Sibanda is a humanitarian activist, actress and a girl-child advocate.
She is also the founder of the Ayanda Candice Foundation, an organisation that advocates for young women empowerment and the rights of people with disabilities.
Recently, Sibanda was named one of Zimbabwe’s most influential women by the Guardian United Kingdom.
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