HARARE - Reigning Miss Zimbabwe, Vanessa Sibanda, has narrowly missed out on the Miss World crown after falling at the last hurdle in Johannesburg. (Pictured: Miss Zimbabwe Vanessa Sibanda finished in the Top 12 at the Miss World finals last weekend)
Vanessa, 21, waltzed her way into the top 12 along with finalists from Barbados, Bolivia, France, Gibraltar, Indonesia, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Scotland, South Africa, and Vietnam.
But the Zimbabwean missed the final cut as Kaiane Aldorino, representing Gibraltar, cast aside early favourite Miss Puerto Rico to scoop up the glamorous prize at a glitzy bash in Johannesburg on Saturday night.
The first runner-up was Miss Mexico, Perla Beltran Acosta, but the loudest cheers were reserved for Miss South Africa, Tatum Keshwar, who was the second runner-up. Vanessa must have fancied her chances after making it into the top 10 for Miss World Beach Beauty, eventually won by Miss Gibraltar. But the Zimbabwean will be proud of her efforts against a strong field of 120 girls from around the world.
From South Africa, Vanessa flew to England where a luncheon was held in her honour by the tourist office at the Zimbabwe Embassy in London last Wednesday. Zimbabweans in the UK got a chance to meet Vanessa over a traditional meal and drinks, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority said in a statement.
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