Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2023 winner is not an “accurate representation” of the African country’s population?
RACIAL BIAS? – The Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2023 pageant has faced criticism for crowning a white woman.
21-year-old Brooke Bruk-Jackson was crowned Miss Universe Zimbabwe on September 16, 2023. She will represent Zimbabwe at the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador in November.
However, her victory sparked controversy due to her being white in a country where 98 percent of the population is black. Critics argue that Brooke’s win is not an “accurate representation” of Zimbabwe’s population and may reflect racial bias.
Critics on social media expressed dissatisfaction, suggesting that a white woman winning a contest for Black people was “problematic.” Some called for self-love and respect within the Black community, advocating against sending a white contestant to represent Zimbabwe.
The Miss Universe Zimbabwe pageant serves as the national preliminary event to select the country’s representative for the Miss Universe pageant. Contestants come from the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwean nationals from other countries can participate.
Brooke is the second white woman to win a national African beauty pageant in 2023, with the first being Miss South Africa Natasha Joubert. However, Brooke’s win is considered more controversial due to Zimbabwe’s complex racial history, particularly related to land reform and the removal of white inhabitants.
Despite the criticism, some supporters defended Brooke, highlighting her exceptional performance in the question and answer portion and her modeling skills. Brooke is currently employed as a beauty therapist and also works as a part-time model. She completed her senior high school education at Chispite Senior School in Harare and obtained a diploma from the British Academy of Fashion Design in London. In October 2022, she signed a contract with Boss Models South Africa, a modeling talent agency in Cape Town.
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