Education
Source: The Post
FORMER Miss Zimbabwe Bongani Dlakama says education broadens girls' horizons and helps them build self esteem as women.
In an interview Dlakama, 26, said a girl child had the right to grow up, get educated and choose who they want to marry.
"It is essential for children, girls and women in general to take education very seriously because it will broaden their horizons and develop them to build their esteem as women and to see things differently," she said.
Dlakama said education was the gateway to success.
"I believe that it [education] empowers a person, especially girl children," she said.
Dlakama urged parents to give their daughters a chance to attain education instead of giving them away into early marriages.
"Parents who give away their children into early marriages are being unfair. The girl child should have the right to grow up, experience and choose who they really want to end up with. Women should choose who they really want to be with for the rest of their lives," she said.
Dlakama appealed to beauty pageant organisers to engage the corporate world when organising modelling competitions in order to add value to the business.
"Organisers need to liaise more with the corporate world so that they can add value to beauty pageants. The whole idea is to empower girls so that they can build their confidence, esteem and to be independent," she said.
She urged youths to always exhibit self confidence in life.
"Youths should think of themselves greatly, no one should tell you what you are worth, you are the only person who knows how much you are worth and you should be proud of who you are. Always look at ways of developing yourself so that you are not dependent on other people," said Dlakama.
Dlakama was crowned Miss Zimbabwe in April 2012 and won US$10,000 cash and shopping vouchers from Edger's Cosmetics.
She also represented Zimbabwe at the Miss World in China before becoming Miss Bulawayo.