FREELANCE model Ayanda Candice Sibanda has set her eyes on the Miss Universe Zimbabwe crown after she qualified for the next round of selection.
The 23-year-old model told NewsDay Life & Style that she was keeping a positive attitude and was optimistic to make the grade from the 25 contestants set to be trimmed to the final 12 bevy of beauties.
The pageant’s grand finale has been set for September 16 at the Harare Hippodrome.
“I am very prepared for the pageant. I am now working hard to put all the pieces together. Crowns, however, are one’s destiny and it could fall on anyone,” she noted.
She said her vision was to share the Zimbabwean story from a place of authenticity and use her voice and influence to positively impact Zimbabwean people.
“I want to show people that confidence lies in living an authentic lifestyle and understanding that you don’t have to fit a certain image to be considered beautiful. It lies in one’s confidence,” she said.
Sibanda said she was passionate about social issues like young women empowerment and advocacy for the rights of people with disabilities which influenced her to start her own foundation, the Ayanda Candice Foundation.
Sibanda holds four beauty crowns: Miss Teen Zimbabwe second runner-up (2019), Miss Albinism Zimbabwe (2019), Miss University of Zimbabwe (2020) and Miss Africa Zimbabwe (2022).
She has also won awards that include Outstanding Female Model at the Bulawayo Arts Awards (2022), Outstanding Female Model at the Bulawayo Models Awards (2020), Young Influencer of the Year at the Ignite Youth Awards (2022) and People’s Choice Young Achievers (2021).
Pageant organiser Tendai Hunda said the winner would walk away with various prizes including cash and a car sponsored by one of the biggest car dealerships in Zimbabwe.
The beauty queen will represent the country in El Savador, Central America.
Among the models vying for the Miss Universe Zimbabwe crown are Brooke Burke Jackson, Allyfina Mwanyali, Krystal Osieki and Nokutenda Marumbwa.
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