By Theodorah Waga Mawasha
UNITED KINGDOM-Ntombi Shibambo (35) crowned 1st Princess at the Miss/Mrs UK 2022 Beauty pageant in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Shibambo who is currently residing in the United Kingdom was born and raised in Dan village in the Greater Tzaneen.
In a sit down with Tzaneen Voice, the beauty queen reflected on the journey. She told the publication that the main aim of the competition was to showcase the inner beauty of women who are based in the UK regardless of age, background and ethnicity.
“I entered the competition after my mother and friends persuaded me. Although it has always been my hobby, I had no interest to participate because of my weight gain and low self-esteem. I am happy I fought my insecurities. Needless to say, the work has paid off”, Shibambo said.
The businesswoman was competing with contestants from countries such as Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, Mauritius, Ghana and Zimbabwe.
There is a vast misconception about beauty pageants as many people often think the criteria are associated with physical qualities. Pageantry is however more about empowerment and building self-esteem.
But mostly, who the pageants are at the core is of great worth.
Unlike other beauty contests, Miss/Mrs UK Africa aims to redefine the way African beauty is perceived in all Contests. They dispel the age-long notion, that beauty pageants are the preserve of the lesser intellectually endowed female Species, and that only physical attributes are worthy of note!
The beauty queen highlighted that what is more satisfying to her is building a legacy for her daughter.
“I run businesses and also work with Choice Trust NGO in Limpopo. I raise funds for the organization because I am passionate about giving back to the community. This also bolsters my mission to help aspiring women who wish to one day walk runways at world stages but feel side-lined because of age and other factors “, She said.
Shibambo emphasized the importance of financial independence for women in closing and encouraged women young and old to embrace their scars. She said the scars tell a story and are where their inner beauty lies.
