AFRICANEWS

Zambia

Extra-ordinary modelling princess

Mary Nawale is an illiterate girl with a tall ambition. She wants to become Africa's ambassador on the international scene. However, whether this ambition will come true for Mary will be known at a beauty pageant hosted by MNET in Johannesburg, early next year.

The world of Mary Nawale, the slim Zambian beauty is slowly opening up for great opportunities and luxuries.

Since Zambia first participated in the M-Net initiative to search for a unique original African beauty through the annual Face of Africa competition, Nawale is the first Zambian M-NET Face of Africa finalist, who has brought pride and joy to her country.There has never been such an extraordinary winner like Nawale.

Seventeen-years-old Nawale comes from a typical less privileged family, she has stunning legs, a fabulous head with natural hair and an outgoing personality that gives her great chances to outwit all those vying for the international modelling title.Nawale was discovered at the Lusaka City Market by M-NET Face of Africa producer Jan Malan,who found her buying vegetables at the market in May.

She has scooped her place as Zambia's envoy in the search of the Face of Africa beating 60 other girls who took part in the casting session in June. Her ability in speaking pure Namwanaga (a native Zambian language) has made her the jewel of Africa's linguistic culture.
It is now becoming the new beauty mark of African models to be proud of their continent.

Yet it is up to former Zambian beauty queens to give her moral support, as she is a total stranger to the modelling world. To this, Zambians have been assured that Mary, who has been made handicapped by her failure to communicate in English will not be in any way disadvantaged as she seeks the lucrative title.

"That Mary cannot converse in English does not in any way diminish her chances of making it in modelling. We have appointed Fridah Mudenda of Multichoice to be Mary's interpreter," says Rose-Marie Baldry M-net representative in Zambia. Her beingchosen to represent Zambia has "miraculously " changed her status in society.

Some concerned Lusaka residents fear that Nawale, whose lifestyle has suddenly changed by her taking part in the Face Of Africa competition, may have to revert to abject poverty if she fails to scoop the prestigious and lucrative modelling title. Baldry shares similar concerns like many Lusaka residents as far as Nawale's future is concerned. She has resorted to using her personal initiative embarking on an ambitious soliciting for funds from hotels, business houses, tour operators and members of the public in a bid to come up with a "Special Fund" for the young promising model.

At a press briefing at Lusaka's Intercontinental Hotel recently, Baldry said: "The purpose of the fund that I personally will administer is to make sure that Mary is in future cushioned from abject poverty. Like any other person she has dreams and for the dreams to be realised one needs to maintain self-confidence, which is usually lacking among people who come from disadvantaged families.

Baldry said that a number of local firms who have heard her touching story have shown willingness to donate to the fund." Organisations which have donated generously to the Mary Nawale Fund include Multichoice Kaleidoscope and D.H.L (Zambia) limited," Baldry said.

According to M-Net, this year's Face of Africa is set for a bigger season with 26 countries and 46 cities, towns and villages in Africa offering their beauties for an exceptional competition that will capture the imagination of international modelling critics. Malan says the casting has already begun, with four regional finals for the M-Net Face Of Africa 2000 taking place over the next seven months, culminating in the gala finals in Cape Town, South Africa on April 8 next year.

From a friendly girl in Lusaka's high density residential Chipata area, Mary is now the most sought after person by journalists and " paparazzi's " waiting to get that million dollar picture.
She is among four girls chosen in southern Africa. From South Africa, there is Miss Nombulelo Mazibuko and Miss Lerato Moloi and, from Mozambique, there is Suraya Dhlakama.
The four were chosen at the MNET Face of Africa southern Africa regional finals held in Swaziland on June 19.

Principal Judge from Elite Modelling Agency of USA Oliver Daube, says Mary can make it as an international model. "We were extremely excited about Mary's presence on the catwalk and her photographic talent," Daube said. Nawale, however, is not the only one with the language barrier; the other girl sharing her problem is Dhlakama who has been using an interpreter.

Nawale was given a hero's welcome at Lusaka's International Airport in June when returned from Swaziland. She was driven home to her family, for a quite weekend after all the excitement of the previous two weeks. Nawale has a long way to go before the M-NET finals in Cape Town. Meanwhile, the Zambian Driving school has offered to teach Mary to drive with lessons worth K 500, 000 ( US$ 200 ). Handyman's Paradise has offered literacy and English lessons to Nawale, which will stand her in good stead for the rest of her life. Splendour Modelling Agency has offered to groom Nawale on a weekly basis as she prepares for next year's spectacular event in Cape Town.

The search is under way for a face that will define the look of a new millennium, a face that will take the African continent to the fashion capitals of the M-Net Face of Africa 2000. The winner will walk away with a $150 000 modelling contract with Elite Model Management and join her forerunners, 19-year-old Nigerian, Oluchi and 18-year-old Namibian, Benvinda the current M-Net Face of Africa in New York.

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