For the second year running, the winner of the Miss Zimbabwe beauty pageant has become embroiled in controversy over compromising photographs, alleged to be of Zimbabwe’s representative in the next Miss World contest, being leaked through social media.
Recently crowned Miss Zimbabwe, Emilia Kachote, will have a nervous wait to find out if her fate will mirror that of last year’s winner, Thabiso Phiri, who was dethroned and stripped of her prizes.
A local publication quoted Emilia as admitting the images were of her, adding that they were taken by a former boyfriend while she under the influence of alcohol.
“I was hoping that the pictures would have been deleted by now since it happened a long time ago. I last spoke to the guy a year ago and I no longer have anything to do with him since what we had ended a long time ago,” she reportedly said.
At a hurried press conference in Harare on Monday morning, Miss Zimbabwe Trust communication and programmes manager Tendai Chirau said the organisation was investigating the nude images saga before they make a final decision.
“We have to sit down as a Trust and look at the allegations and investigate further so that we come up with a position,” said Chirau.
Chirau added that when the Trust was scouting and auditioning contestants, all the girls were advised not to participate if they had any issues that might compromise them, including nude pictures that might be leaked through social media.
“We told them clearly and most of them said no and they signed some forms undertaking that they have never posed nude.”
He went on to say that the local pageant’s rules and regulations were the same as those used internationally by Miss World.
