By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
It was supposed to be glitz, glam, and girl power. But the Miss Universe Zimbabwe pageant turned into a chaotic mess — and Mzansi superstar Connie Ferguson found herself right in the middle of it!
The beloved South African actress and former beauty queen jetted into Harare on an all-expenses-paid trip to sit on the judging panel for this year’s Miss Universe Zimbabwe.
With her star power and judging experience (she was a judge when Zozibini Tunzi was crowned Miss Universe!), Connie was expected to bring sparkle and class to the event.
But even her presence couldn’t save what many are now calling a pageant disaster.
From the get-go, the show stumbled. Held at the lavish Hippodrome, the event was plagued with technical glitches, endless delays, and cringe-worthy moments — including one where host Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa mistakenly referred to Harare mayor Jacob Mafume as “His Excellency.” Ouch!
With not one, not two, but three hosts (Ruvheneko, Becky K, and Arthur Evans) tripping over each other on stage, things quickly spiraled from glitzy to messy.
Then came the real shocker: judges skipped the traditional Top 5 announcement and went straight to crowning Lyshanda Moyos as Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025 — despite her stumbling awkwardly through the Q&A segment.
Her answer? Garbled. Her confidence? Wobbly. And the audience? Not impressed.
“She fumbled a simple question,” whispered one stunned pageant fan. “There were girls who gave brilliant answers and owned the stage — but didn’t even make it into the spotlight.”
Connie, ever the pro, remained gracious throughout the chaos. On stage, she spoke passionately about empowering young women and how beauty pageants helped launch her career from Botswana to South Africa.
“I know what this platform can do for these girls,” she said. “When used properly, it’s life-changing.”
But for many in the audience, the night felt more like déjà vu from Zimbabwe’s murky election culture — a crown handed out without transparency.
As the dust settles, fans are asking: Was this a beauty pageant or a beautifully packaged mess? And will Connie Ferguson speak out now that her name is tied to this controversial crowning?
One thing’s for sure — Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025 has left a lot more than glitter on the stage. It’s left questions.
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