By Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
Beitbridge perennial modelling contender Elmas Moses, aka Jah, was on Saturday night crowned Mr Ugly Beitbridge 2010 at a function held at Pagomo Leisure Centre.
A total of 35 men from across the country had initially expressed interest in taking part in the pageant, but some of them developed cold feet at the eleventh hour.
Nine contestants all from Beitbridge town were vying for the Mr Ugly throne where Jah romped to victory outclassing the highly fancied last year’s winner Chikomakoma.
Jah was the first runner-up in the inaugural edition of the pageant last year. For his efforts, Jah pocketed R1 500, while the first and second runners-up pocketed R750 and R500 respectively.
Little known James James and Hilary Maunga settled for second and third positions.
Last year the winner, known as Chikomakoma, walked away with R1 500 in cash, a big axe and a goat while the first and second runners-up Mdara Jah and Manhanha respectively got R1 200 and R900 each.
The other contestants were given R300 cash as appearance fees.
Despite the pageant being held a week later because of logistical issues between the organisers and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, it lived up to expectations. The contest was initially set for March 6.
It was the second time for the pageant to be held in Beitbridge after its inaugural edition was a success and attracted 30 men in July last year.
Harare-based dance group New Age put up an electric performance to liven up the event.
Judges were drawn from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the Beitbridge business community.
In a post-contest interview, Jah was on cloud nine, saying he was proud of his natural being and indicated that he was ready to walk on the ramp against the most ugly men in the world.
He, however, bemoaned the prize money, saying the organisers should review it upward so as to draw more participants across the country.
"A man has to be proud of who he is and I am happy that I am the ugliest man around here. However, I want to urge the organisers to review the prize money as it is discouraging to some would-be contestants.
"I was disappointed when I came second last year, but this time I worked hard on my weakness to be crowned Mr Ugly Beitbridge 2010,"he said.
Jah boasts of being the ugliest person in his family.
The man behind the pageant, Mr Dominic Gwatirisa, said the event had been a success, adding that they were looking forward to another contest to be held in Bulawayo in the next few weeks.
He said the event was meant to ensure that people areproud of who they are just like any other contests of similar nature, such as Miss Big Matofotofo, Miss Tourism, Miss Legs, Miss Zimbabwe and Mr Muscle Man.
"We held the contest this year banking on the success of the inaugural show last year which attracted 30 men from across the country. However, this time the event was bigger and a success story. We want to make it a unique annual event and plans are afoot to make it a national event.
"You will realise that a number of pageants are centred on women and we as the Mr Ugly Crew want to shift that mindset and have fun with men from across the country. Initially we had 35 men who had shown interest in the pageant, but some developed cold feet," he said.
The event, he said, was back by public demand banking on the success of the last edition in 2009.
Gwatirisa said other shows would be held in Gwanda, Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo and other provinces, adding that the national finals would be held in Harare at a date to be announced.
He said those making it into the top 10 in Beitbridge would compete with other top five winners from each town for the national finals in Harare.
published by; The Herald 17 March 2010
www.herald.co.zw
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