Nonhlanhla Togwe was crowned Miss African Spirit 2010 at the pageant’s inaugural event held at Jurys Inn Hotel in Milton Keynes on Saturday 22nd May 2010. Representing Zimbabwe, Nonhlanhla who currently works as a payroll assistant went on to beat thirteen other contestants from various parts of Africa including Nigeria, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Algeria, Uganda and Namibia to become the pageant’s first ever winner.
Gabon’s Lauricia Bissala and Katongo Temba from Zambia became 1st and 2nd princesses respectively in a multi-cultural ceremony attended by members of the public, community leaders, dignitaries from the African business community, as well guests of honour, the recently elected Mayor of Milton Keynes Councillor Debbie Brock and her consort Councillor Peter Geary (husband).
Nonhlanhla says, “I am exhilarated, and proud to be a Zimbabwean and to be the very first Miss African Spirit. I have found myself with such a precious opportunity to raise publicity and funds for charities. I am so lucky to have met all the other contestants and will seize the chance to make a difference.”
The winner of Miss African Spirit is obliged to nominate a charity initiative that they will support and work closely with during their reign and beyond. Nonhlanhla’s chosen initiative is Neniwo/Lamifuthi, a non-profit organization based in Zimbabwe’s city of Bulawayo. Neniwo/Lamifuthi facilitates direct educational support of orphaned children in Zimbabwe, a country which has in recent times seen a steep rise in the number of young children who have lost parents due to HIV/AIDS epidemic and other illnesses. (See www.neniwolamifuthi.org
Pageant Director Michelle Adams says,” We are very pleased with the support we received from all sectors of the community in making our inaugural event such a success. This is a very rare and unique pageant where no restrictions were imposed in as far as the height or weight of the contestants is concerned and we sought to find women that embody that true African spirit of charity and generosity. We congratulate Nonhlanhla Togwe as she embarks on her new journey as Miss African Spirit 2010”.
Miss African Spirit will be an annual event to be held every May as part of Africa Day celebrations. To interview or book Nonhlanhla for features please contact the organisers at info@missafricanspirit.co.uk or visit www.missafricanspirit.co.uk .
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