Mixed reactions as white woman crowned Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2023

Twenty-one-year-old Brooke Bruk-Jackson has been crowned Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2023 after 22 years since the pageant was put on hold. The event marked yet another significant milestone in the world of beauty pageants.

It was a radiant display of beauty and confidence after twelve exceptional finalists took to the stage at the Hippodrome in Braeside. The Miss Universe Zimbabwe pageant, themed “Beautifully Confident”, offered a platform for the contestants to demonstrate their inner strength and self-assuredness.

The event was a vibrant celebration of empowerment and self-confidence, with contestants showcasing grace and charisma in their quest for the prestigious title. It was also enriched by captivating performances from renowned musicians, including Diamond Musica, Nutty O, Prudence Katomeni, and Takura, as reported by iharare.

The pinnacle of the pageant came when Bruk-Jackson, a Zimbabwean beauty therapist and model, was crowned Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2023, claiming the coveted title. She beat 11 other finalists to pick the title of Miss Universe Zimbabwe. But her win has been met with mixed reactions, as she is white. While some argued on social media that a Black contestant should have won, others said she deserved the crown.

“She’s absolutely gorgeous. If she’s Zimbabwean-born, then she qualifies. Everything else is rato drama. Let her enjoy her limelight moment,” Brian Ngoni Muzabazi wrote on Facebook.

Bruk-Jackson, the newly crowned Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2023, is the daughter of Tracey Evans Bruk-Jackson. Her educational journey included attending Chisipite Senior School in Harare for her secondary education. She later pursued studies at the British Academy of Fashion Design in London, England, United Kingdom, and the Beauty Therapy Institute in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.

Bruk-Jackson’s tenure as Miss Universe Zimbabwe comes with the significant duty of being a global ambassador for her country. She will proudly wear the Zimbabwe sash at the 72nd edition of Miss Universe, scheduled for November 18, 2023, in El Salvador.

In this international competition, she will join beauty queens from across the globe in the pursuit of the coveted title.

During Saturday’s event, Amanda Mpofu earned the first runner-up position, while Nokutenda Marumbwa secured the title of second runner-up.