PAGEANTRY is fast becoming a source of livelihood for many, with talent being identified and developed at an early age.

This comes as five-year-old King Epikaizo Mushunje prepares to represent Zimbabwe at the continental Mr Toto Africa in Kenya early next year.

The norm across the world is that Pageantry often starts at a tender age, but Zimbabwe was lagging, with the majority getting into the industry well into their teens.

What used to be rare is now becoming common, with children as young as five-year-old King Epikaizo Mushunje stepping into the limelight.

“I am happy to go and represent Zimbabwe. I love modelling. I say no to bullying and let love lead,” he said.

“His journey started when he was just a year old. People saw his pictures and they always concluded he would be a great model. Unfortunately, at that time, he could not get into any pageant because he was too young. Now that he is five, we entered him at Mr Toto and to my surprise, he won and is set for the continental stage. We are still trying to make everything available, but we are still looking for more funding to make sure all is in place for him,” King’s mother, Margaret Mushunje said.

Players in the Industry believe with the right support and funding, Zimbabwe has the potential to grow a strong pageantry culture that produces confident and experienced contestants ready for the world stage.

“Countries like South American countries, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, have pageants that start at zero age. Every single year, children keep entering pageants. You have pageants for four-year-olds, for pre-teens, for teens and by the time they are 23 or 24, they would have had so much experience. But in Zimbabwe, the challenge is we do not have funding or a culture of starting them young, so most only enter their first big pageant when they are already adults,” Pageantry expert, Patience Lusengo noted.

With more children getting early exposure, Zimbabwe is setting the stage for future international success; one runway step at a time.