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| Entertainment |
| Miss Malawi is short: Is she fit for Miss World? |
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by
Our Reporter, 06 August 2004
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16:01:50
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Reigning Miss Malawi, Florence Zeka has broken her silence on Chairman of the Organising team Carvers Bhima’s remarks that she is too short to participate in the Miss World beauty pageant saying Bhima’s statement is shocking.
“I was shocked to learn that they can send anyone else and not me. What then is the point of having judges and choosing a Miss Malawi if they can pick anyone then?” queried the beauty queen.
She added: “If I am not going, then the one going will do so in what capacity? I have the right, as Miss Malawi, to participate at the Miss World competition.” asked Zeka.
Zeka said she was optimistic about her participation in the contest, saying there are well-wishers who want her to go to the Miss World. She added she could make it with their help.
She felt there are no requirements for entry in terms of height because some countries like this year’s host, China, have short people.
Bhima told Weekend Nation two weeks ago that the rules and regulations of the competition allow them to choose any of the contestants from number one to 10 to represent Malawi at the Miss World should they feel that Zeka’s height “puts her at a disadvantage”.
Part of the criteria for contesting in the Miss World beauty pageant is that participants should be of reasonable height, with the minimum height being 1.70 metres.
Heights of other potential contestants for this year as shown on the Miss World website range from 1.71 metres to 1.88 metres. On the basis of this Bhima cast doubt on Zeka who stands at 1.56 metres, making it to the world pageant.
But his statement has not gone down well with followers of the local beauty pageant who say he ought to be promoting Zeka instead of bringing her down.
“Such negative statements should not have come from Bhima and if possible he should withdraw them,” said Janet Banda a resident of Lilongwe.
Banda further questioned: “When Elizabeth Pullu went to South Africa in 2001, was it so apparent that she would bring the Miss World crown? Why should Zeka’s participation be doubtful when Pullu was just as short?”
Former judge of the Miss Malawi beauty contest Beatrice Kadzamira said she would encourage Zeka to participate in the contest and not to give up.
“It is unfortunate that I have not seen her so I cannot make a fair judgement of her height. But if there is no height requirement then I would encourage her to try and participate,” said Kadzamira.
The Miss World website indicates that this year’s contestants will go into camp in November, with the event itself taking place on December 4, 2004 in Sanya, China.
Miss Malawi’s participation has not yet been confirmed as the organisers are reportedly still trying to source entry fees, an equivalent of MK400,000 ($3,704). If Zeka participates at the event, she will be the second Miss Malawi to take part in the competition after Elizabeth Pullu who represented the country in 2001.
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