Miss Rural Zimbabwe Pageant Expands Across Africa, Empowering Authentic Rural Girls

The Miss Rural Zimbabwe pageant, created by former model Sipho Mazibuko in 2003, is now expanding its reach to empower authentic rural girls across the African continent. The pageant aims to showcase the resilience, skills, and talents of young women who fetch water, collect firewood, and work in fields, providing them with a platform to advocate for their communities.

Mazibuko announced that the pageant will extend beyond Zimbabwe's borders, with all license holders required to adhere to the Miss Rural Organization guidelines for scouting these rural girls. The pageant has previously attracted the attention of major international broadcasters such as CNN, Al Jazeera, and SABC.

Why this matters: The expansion of the Miss Rural Zimbabwe pageant across Africa highlights the importance of empowering and uplifting rural communities on the continent. By providing a platform for authentic rural girls to showcase their talents and advocate for their communities, the pageant contributes to greater visibility and support for often marginalized rural populations.

The last edition of Miss Rural Zimbabwe was held in 2019, with the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting plans for the 2020 event. Mazibuko is now focusing her efforts on the continental version of the pageant while also working on other empowerment projects for women.

"The pageant aims to showcase the resilience and talents of these girls, providing them with a platform to showcase their skills and advocate for their communities," Mazibuko stated, emphasizing the importance of the pageant in empowering rural girls and promoting their voices and experiences.

Key Takeaways

• Miss Rural Zimbabwe pageant expanding across Africa to empower rural girls.
• Pageant showcases resilience, skills, and talents of young rural women.
• Pageant aims to provide a platform for rural girls to advocate for their communities.
• Last edition held in 2019, with COVID-19 disrupting 2020 event.
• Organizer focusing on continental version of pageant and women's empowerment projects.