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. . . when models make marriage, motherhood and career choices

Godwin Muzari : Arts Editor

Despite glitz and glamour associated with pageants and their ultimate search for beauty, modelling has for many years been treated with suspicion because of perceptions allied to moral values. Pageant gurus have on many occasions availed lengthy presentations disputing misconceptions about their industry and arguing modelling should not be unfairly soiled, but treated as any other career that has its bright and dark attributes.However, as the gurus plead and fume in their campaigns to clean the littered profession, their efforts are often compromised by questionable characters that consistently pop out among youthful models.

When late-teen girls that still have stains of high school mischief suddenly find themselves on the national beauty radar — attracting admiration of the country’s rich and famous — they sometimes get over-excited and perplexed.

Such excitement leads to blind decisions that have ruined careers of many promising models and brought shame pageantry.

Getting into modelling at high level often means falling into a sea of temptations since the industry is surrounded by marauding sex predators most of whom are rich.

Very few models can resist the lure of flashy lifestyles that seem to come on silver platters as soon as they grace the ramps of prestigious pageants. Sponsors and benefactors with ulterior motives will always be waiting in the crowd or behind the stage with individual contracts and the majority of models fall into their traps.

After being used and dumped, the models helplessly watch their careers going to waste and sometimes resort to deplorable activities like prostitution and even thieving to sustain the flashy lifestyles they would have been introduced to.

Sad stories about models that are lured off focus by the temptation of quick rise to high life are common.

The chorus about moral gaps of pageants grows louder and negative perceptions about modelling are solidified through some actions from the beauties.

The models fail to realise that beauty can be a life trap and, like any other profession, modelling requires informed decisions and wise choices.

Many models that spoke to Saturday Herald Lifestyle admitted that their profession is a temptation. Some did not want to be named but admitted they lived in a world of artificial beliefs that left them with permanent emotional scars.

The realization that there is more beyond the glitz and glamour of the ramp came too late for many beauties that are now living in regret while some wise ones have taken advantage of the exposure to start life-changing careers.

Mercy Mushaninga, who made a mark in the industry at the turn of the millennium, said glitz and glamour of the industry sometimes blinds models from reality and deprives them of opportunities breakthrough.

“We have many models that are living in sad conditions when they could have made it in life. After all the glamour, there is a time when a woman has to settle and make mature decisions. We all know that it is every girl’s wish to get married and have a family. We all know that women are happy when they are empowered because they made right career decisions at the right time. Most models lose out on these aspirations because of flashy lifestyles that come their way at their peak time,” said Mushaninga.

Mercy Mushaninga

She said she also learnt the hard way after a relationship during her heyday resulted in pregnancy that saw her quitting the industry and pursuing other avenues to fend for her child.

“The choices of what you want in terms of career, marriage or motherhood should come from life decision despite of career. I lost a lot because I left the industry and did many other jobs to take care of my child.

“If I did not have a strong character, I would have lost track but I kept on working hard until I returned to the modelling industry to groom others. I will tell them about my experience and advice them to make wise choices even if they seem to be living on top of the world. It is a passing phase that should benefit and not ruin lives.”

As her child grew up, Mushaninga made a decision to start Zim Gossip models that has so far organised pageants like Miss Curvy, Diamond Queen of Africa and also had a hand in Miss Carnival.

She has also had projects in new information technology, but her passion is to give back to the modelling community through grooming models that can make wise choices and safeguard their future.

However, she admitted that it is difficult to sway models away from the temptations of the industry as male predators continue to invent new ways of wining the hearts of young models when they do not have sincere intentions.

“Every woman wants a good life and it is generally difficult to advise a girl to avoid dubious sponsors and benefactors. They will be lured through gifts like cars, houses, expensive clothes, holidays and money. It is not easy to resist such offers and models are exposed to tricky circumstances. Unfortunately, most of them spend their lives regretting. It is sad.”

Miss Universe Zimbabwe (2011) Lisa Morgan has often been cited as a beautiful lady who always had focus despite making it to international limelight.

Lisa got married in 2013 and had her first child in 2014. She is advancing her academic qualifications and studying towards a degree in financial management with UNISA.

Lisa Morgan

She is into catering business and runs Queens Restaurant with assistance from her husband. Lisa says she was not spared the temptations of the industry, but she made her choices wisely.

“The problem with most models is that they feel the world revolves around them. When you get all that attention from the rich and famous, you feel on top of the world. The models start competing to show off flashy lifestyles and they often lose focus. Affairs with married man have led to most models’ downfall. They cannot make right choices about marriage or future careers. It is always important to know that the period of attracting attention will pass and life after the ramp should be made while one still has the opportunity,” said Lisa.

“I was exposed to numerous dangers of the trade, but I was always focused. I knew what I wanted in life and I did not get carried away. I know the consequences of fast life and I chose a slow lane. When I look at most models I worked with, I feel sorry because they blew away golden chances.”

Lisa is also working to inspire other models with the aim of showing young beauties that the industry can have good fruits if a correct mindset is applied to the profession.

“I am running a pageant at Thornhill High School in Gweru. Miss Thornhill takes place every year and I strive to show people that modelling is a good profession and we should work to fight the negative attributes of the industry. I also inspire pupils to do well in their academic studies and I sponsor the Lisa Morgan trophy for best male and female pupils.

“I learnt at Thornhill and I feel I have to give back to the community that made me. I am happy with my progress in life and I want to share that happiness with the Gweru community. I would not be here if I had fallen for the fast life that my peers in modelling followed.

“Models should be able to make life and career choices without hindrance. Only that development will save modelling from the negative perceptions that surround it.”

Vanessa Sibanda

There are various other models that have made it in life through utilising the exposure they got through the ramp.

The ability to make good decisions separate the classes of models, but a lot still has to be done to show aspiring models that there is more beyond the glitz and glamour of the ramp.

In recent interviews former models Vanessa Sibanda and Brita Masalethulini concurred that their careers have taken them through various phases but they remain focused on developing themselves in and outside the modelling realm.