Tuesday, June 19, 2012

William Masvinu wins 'Mr. Ugly' pageant in Zimbabwe




HARARE, Zimbabwe -- The latest winner of Zimbabwe's Mr. Ugly pageant has ambitions of fame and fortune. But, so far, he remains a simple market porter.

William Masvinu, 38, who won the second edition of the pageant last month, makes his living carrying loads for shoppers in a market in the impoverished western Harare township of Mbare. The victory has made him a local celebrity, but the modeling offers he thought he'd be getting aren't yet pouring in.

"I was expecting to do some adverts and some modeling if I was asked. But I'm still poor, still carrying loads of cabbages onto buses," he said.

"I am ready to show the world my gift," he said. "Being ugly is not a curse. It's a gift God gave me and I'm proud of it. My face makes me special and I am not making any excuses about it."

Organizers say they started the pageant as a novel way to entertain audiences. Zimbabwe already has a host of conventional beauty contests.

Masvinu beat four other ugly men to land the title, $100 in cash and a night at a hotel. Masvinu said he cashed in the hotel voucher to buy food.

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