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Tafadzwa Zimoyo and Brenda Phiri Entertainment Reporters
As the build up for the Black Opal Face of Zimbabwe (BOFZ) scheduled for Harare International Conference Centre on July 25 intensifies, the mood in camp is equally intense.

Ever since the organisers opened the voting platform for the 16 finalists on June 22, social media has been awash with campaigns.

From events to adverts of fliers and social media, it is evident that the models have stepped up their game and are eager to garner as many votes as possible. Black Opal Zimbabwe marketing director, Tatenda Mutseyekwa, however, revealed that while the votes were important, they had put in place measures to ensure that even the less socially popular models have a fair chance to the title.

Mutseyekwa said they were highly impressed by the large numbers who are voting on the mobile networks.

“The final decision is indeed not based entirely on votes. SMS votes help a contestant qualify for the Grand Finale, but they don’t guarantee winning the promotion,” he said.

Mutseyekwa said they were not discouraging the contestants from being innovative because the votes contributed 50 percent of the final score while the rest were from the judge’s score board.

He said the judges would consider traits such as confidence, intelligence, humility, beauty, facial skin appearance and product knowledge among others.

“The reason for this is we want the public to have a say in who becomes the Brand Ambassador for the national brand,” said Mutseyekwa.

He said as the organisers, they were impressed by the level of enthusiasm being shown by this year’s finalists which was evidence of the growth of the pageant.

Their various activities indicate that they have been undergoing intense grooming in cat walking, knowledge on the Black Opal Cosmetics products as well as caring for their skins.

“All contestants are not professional models but ordinary citizens who happen to be Black Opal Cosmetics customers.

“Most of them had no experience in public speaking or ‘being under the spotlight’ (which is the theme). So part of the reason for the media events was to give them an opportunity to practice speaking and walking in front of the public,” he said.

It seems the pageant has also received a stamp of approval from the public with the organisers being commended for incorporating quality finalists.

The pageant night at HICC will have a befitting star-studded line up of performers such as Jah Prayzah, Suluman Chimbetu, Cynthia Mare, Soul Jah Love, and Shinsoman.