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BOFZ finalists Rufaro Moyo (left) and Tanaka Manyunzu

Brenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
When pictures of Miss World Zimbabwe contestants were published ahead of the pageant that was held in April, there was an outcry.

Most commentators claimed there was no beauty among the contestants of the beauty pageant.

And when Emily Kachote was crowned Miss World Zimbabwe (she was recently dethroned), the noise grew louder and social networks went ablaze with criticism.

Many people felt she did not deserve the crown while others were blunt and noted that she was just ugly.

The debate about Kachote was a heated one, but some modelling experts maintained she was the best. Her facial looks were far from the controversy that led to her exit.

Now, barely two months after the Miss World Zimbabwe beauty (or ugliness) cold war, another social media warfare over models has erupted. The current debate has been ignited by the unveiling of Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe finalists.

While most comments on Black Opal Facebook page say the contestants are better loking than the Miss World Zimbabwe 2015 finalists, others have claimed the pictures could have been doctored and therefore misleading.

The debate is raging and some experienced photographers believe some effects were used on Face of Zimbabwe photos to paint beautiful images of the constants.

People from different parts of the country took to social media to speak their mind.

One Pelma Mazhindu wrote: “Ok. Wher wer these girls pakaitwa Miss Zim? (Where were these girls during the Miss World Zimbabwe pageant)?”

“They are all gorgeous!” wrote one Kinester Mutero Chigudugudze.

A Facebook user, Fecundity Makhumalo Wachoe, added “Pliz don’t edit the pics, dats not beauty… a pic shld be natural coz now the face and the body skin not even . . . (Don’t edit pictures, they should be original.

“That is not beauty,” she said. A chief photographer with a local newspaper argued that the Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe (BOFZ) models had the unfair advantage of professionally crafted pictures compared to those provided from Miss World Zimbabwe sashing ceremony.

“It is clear that the pictures of the models were taken from a studio with the right lighting and resources to come out with the best shots,” he said.

It remains to be seen if the contestants look as good in real life. Would the BFOZ queen be a representation of real beauty that critics have been clamouring for?

Representatives from BOFZ were, however, quick to defend the national pageant saying they used a different criteria al- together.

“The criteria for BOFOZ is very different than that for traditional pageants such as Miss Zim. There are no height, weight or marital restrictions and contestants only need be 18 years or older and reside in Zimbabwe,” they noted.

A former model added her thoughts on the issue.

“These models clearly have the looks for the BOFZ show but beauty pageants like Miss Zimbabwe require more than just a beautiful face. The person has be single, tall and slim – maybe the ordinary people are more beautiful than models after all,” she said jokingly.

Meanwhile, 16 contestants remain after a vigorous eight rounds of voting.

The models who were drawn from different parts of the country will vie for the title at the Harare International Conference Centre on July 27.

“We will release further details as time goes on. But voting will begin on June 27. On the day of the pageant 50 percent of the votes will be drawn from the voters while the others 50 percent from the judges,” said Tatenda Mutseyekwa Black Opal marketing director.