BY BRIDGET WADZANAI MAVHIMIRA LOCAL modelling guru Mercy “Catwalk” Mushaninga says not being married does not define beauty and urges Zimbabwean pageants such as Miss Zimbabwe to allow married women and mothers to contest for titles.
This comes after the Miss Universe pageant has given green light to married women and mothers to compete and this new rule will take effect in the 72nd Miss Universe national pageants.
Mushaninga told Standard Style that there was no reason to ban married women or mothers and claims the motive was for the moguls who in most cases bankrolls the pageants, to pick up any girl they would want.
“There is no difference between a beautiful married woman and a beautiful single woman as they can both compete and win a crown,” Mushaninga said.
“Not allowing these women to participate simply means the idea of pageantry is not for women empowerment but rather to pimp young girls.”
Mushaninga said even married women should be given the opportunity for big pageantry to fully perform its role of empowering women.
“At the end of the day beauty pageants are about women empowerment and giving back to charity hence a beautiful married woman is just as capable,” she said.
The Miss Curvy Africa licence holder said the hindrance could come if the husband does not allow her to take part.
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“When you are modelling, you are a brand ambassador and should be marketing the pageant moving around countries and doing such while pregnant could be a hustle,” she said.
In all the years, only women between the ages 18 to 28 who had never been married and had no children were allowed to compete for Miss Universe.
However, it is said even though married women and mothers will be allowed the age bracket would remain the same.
Ayanda Candice Sibanda, who is the reigning Miss Africa Zimbabwe (2022) and a director at Miss Teen international Zimbabwe said becoming a mother does not mean one has closed doors to opportunities.
“Women should never be denied opportunity because they became mothers. They do so well as nurturers of their off springs and they will do well as pageantry title holders,” she said.
According to insider.com, preliminary pageants have already begun for this year’s Miss Universe, which will be held in December.
