PAIDAMOYO Mutyambizi, a Zimbabwean model based in Australia has won the January wildcard to mark the return of the Face of Zimbabwe competition, a popular international internet based pageant for Zimbabweans worldwide.
Launched last year to promote the country abroad, Face of Zimbabwe is coming out of a successful year which saw huge international interest and the crowning of Sibo Bero as Face of Zimbabwe 2011.
The pageant attracted finalists from China, UK, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and Zimbabwe establishing itself as a premier and much sought after crown.
The competition selects a finalist every month online with the 12 monthly finalists squaring up at the end of the year to compete for the crown. Last year, the monthly finalists played a critical role in selling Zimbabwe’s tourism destinations to the world and raised significant sums of money for orphaned children in the Epworth area.
The January winner, Mutyambizi, who is based in New South Wales, is currently making inroads in the Australian modelling industry.
In 2009, the stunning 22 year old beauty was crowned Miss Africa Australia and has never looked back.
Speaking after being named the Face of Zimbabwe for January, Mutyambizi said: “I am extremely excited by this challenge, now that I am here. There is nothing I want more than taking the final crown and doing some charity work.”
Mike Tashaya, the pageant’s marketing director who is currently in Zimbabwe to meet with potential sponsors said the 2012 competition will build on the growth of last year and promises to be bigger and more exciting.
“We are currently making arrangements to hold the finals in Zimbabwe at the end of the year so we are keen to have a lot more participants from Zimbabwe-based contestants and businesses looking to partner with us.”
London-based marketing firm, KMG Media, organisers of the competition, have announced the appointment of model, Emily Marambakuyana, a former contestant as one of the administrators for the 2012 competition and a potential shake-up to the judging panel.
Face of Zimbabwe recently signed a contract with technology company Enerco (Pvt) Ltd to enhance text voting and content download. The organisers are currently negotiating sponsorship deals with a number of top Zimbabwean companies.
The pageant has also signed Harare photographer Michele Fortmann as the competition’s official photographer.
As part of its 2012 charity initiative, Face of Zimbabwe is set to launch a Scholarship Fund to support underprivileged children who need assistance with their school fees.
The fund will be opened up to applicants from the entire country and is set to assist a significant number of beneficiaries.
Prospective contestants looking to enter the competition can do so online at www.faceofzimbabwe.com or by contacting the organisers on info@faceofzimbabwe.com