Miss Zimbabwe 2012

23-year-old Bongani Dhlakama  from Bulawayo has been crowned Miss Zimbabwe 2012 in a pageant finale held at Harare International Convention Center. She will now represent her country at Miss World 2012 pageant to be held in Ordos, China, on August 18.

Dhlakama works as an Executive Assistant at the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and Development.

Meanwhile, first princess is Petinah Nhamburo while Ruvimbo Katiyo was named second princess.

Zimbabwe, formerly known as  Southern Rhodesia (until 1965) and Rhodesia (until 1980, when its independence from Britain was recognized),  has a history of relative success in Miss World.

Competing as Rhodesia & Nyasaland (Zimbabwe and Malawi), it first participated in the pageant in 1959, when Vivien Lentin was a semi-finalist. In the following year the British territory had another semi-finalist, Jenny Lee Scott.

Lesley Bunting, Miss Rhodesia 1965, was the its first finalist in Miss World history (6th runner-up).

Right after becoming independent, Zimbabwe had three consecutive semi-finalists in the pageant, from 1980 to 1982. However, its best result came in 1994, when the very stunning Angeline Musasiwa (photo, left) finished as 3rd runner-up competing in Sun City.

Malaika Maidei Mushandu was a Top 15 semi-finalist in last year’s Miss World pageant.

Zimbabwe is currently the 2nd best African country ranked in the Miss World Ranking, only behind South Africa, and 41st overall. In the G2 Ranking, it occupies the 52nd position (3rd in Africa).