17-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo-born Miss Teen Universe Zimbabwe, Tumi Sibanda, is set to become the first teenager to represent the country at the Miss Teen Universe contest slated for Dubai from the 27th of this month to the 7th of March.

The bubbly model, who is the reigning Miss Teen Zimbabwe, is upbeat of taking the international catwalk scene by storm and bring the prestigious crown home.

“Getting the opportunity to represent my country is an absolute honour and considering the preparations we put into this, I am ready to bring that crown home. In such a competition there is a lot of comparing that goes on and it gets quite nerve-wrecking, but looking at other beauty queens, it is just inspiring to amongst such beautiful amazing women,” Sibanda says.

According to Miss Teen Zimbabwe, the Miss Teen Universe contest is also largely a team effort because it requires the nation to rally behind her through online votes as they constitute the overall mark for the crowing process.

“The most important exercise at the moment will be the interaction session, which is indeed is based on votes. The Miss Teen Universe pageant has a Miss Teen Universe page. Go follow the page, it is where you will find a picture of me. Like and interact. Basically, we have to gather together as a country so that we can bring the crown home.”

The Miss Teen Universe contest which is the major source of discovering and grooming fresh and young talent, will see 25 teenagers from 25 countries battle it out for the 2022 Miss Teen Universe crown.

zbc