Record number of entries at Zimbabwe’s Mister Ugly contest

Harare, Zimbabwe – The reigning most ugly person faces tough competition in this year’s contest, due to a record number of entries.
The man who is currently crowned as the ugliest person in Zimbabwe has tough competition defending his title this year, as organisers declare they had received a record number of entries for the contest.

For the first time since the competition began in 2011, this beauty contest with a twist will hold preliminary rounds to whittle the number of hopefuls who will compete in the finale on November 20, from 36 contestants to 12.

David Machowa, the organiser said: “We are looking for natural ugliness.”

Facial features count the most, but contestants will also be judged according to their confidence when walking the runway and how they handle the Question & Answer aspect of the competition.

Explaining why he launched the event, Mr Machowa said: “People have always seen ugliness as something to be ashamed of. Looks are God-given. We should all be proud of who we are.”

Mr Machowa plans to expand it to other countries in southern Africa. He is considering a female version of the contest.

William Masvinu has held the title since 2012 when there were only five contestants. He won 100 US dollars (£65) and a voucher for a night’s stay at a hotel, which he cashed-in for food.

He still works at a market in Harare, hauling vegetables for 10 dollars (£6.50) a day. He had hoped the wins would lead to advertising contracts but that did not materialise.

This year, the owners of a string of Harare nightclubs donated 1,000 dollars (£650) for the prize money, a crown and the event itself, to be held in a nightclub, Mr Machowa said.