Zimbabwe is set to return to take part in the prestigious Miss Universe competition after a 22 year sabattical.
Model Brooke Bruk-Jackson has been crowned the first Miss Universe Zimbabwe since 2001 and is now set to compete on the international stage in El Salvador.
Who is Brooke Bruk-Jackson?
Brooke is a 21-year-old Zimbabwean model who has worked in South Africa for the last five years.
Born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, Brooke attended the British Academy of Fashion Design in London before taking a job as a Beauty Therapist in Cape Town.
She signed with Boss Models South Africa in late 2022, before deciding to enter the Miss Zimbabwe competition this year.
When did Brooke Bruk-Jackson win Miss Universe Zimbabwe?
Brooke was crowned as Miss Universe Zimbabwe on September 16, 2023, and will compete in the worldwide competition in November later this year.
Brooke posted on her Instagram after winning: “My heart is full of joy and gratitude. Thank you to each and every one of you for your kind messages and support. God is Good!
“I have gained this crown for our beautiful country, to love and to serve our people, to represent Zimbabwe Internationally and to show the world the uniqueness of Zimbabwe and Zimbabweans.
“I want to be an example of grace, understanding and inspiration to the youth of Zimbabwe, to instil the spirit of ‘ubuntu’ and know that together we are strong and anything in life is possible.”
“Ubuntu” is a Zimbabwean term meaning “humanity to others”, and is used to remind Zimbabweans that “I am what I am because of who we all are.”
Who were the runner-ups for the Miss Universe Zimbabwe crown?
Zimbabweans Amanda Mpofu and Nokutenda Marumbwa were crowned as first and second runner ups in the competition.
After Brooke’s crowning, some internet users were outraged since Brooke, a white model, was crowned, whereas the majority of the population in the country is black.
But Brooke told ZTNPrime: “One of my biggest things is no matter what country you come from, if you come from an African country for example, you can enter no matter what color you are.
“You can be from any culture, any background, nobody should define you by your colour, by the way you look, or by the shape of your body.”
Source: The Sun