The Crown Hunter is now The Crown Maker! The serial pageant winner Ishmael Murangandi will assume the role of choreographer in the South African beauty pageant Miss Icora FM set for November 17.
Murangandi carries several titles that include Mr Zimbabwe First Runner Up (2020), Mister I Am Africa Zimbabwe (2019), top five finalist at Mister Friendship International (2021) and Mister World Heritage Brand Ambassador (2022). It is his devotion to work and humility that created this choreographing opportunity for him. Four months ago he attended the Miss Environment Grand International pageant in India, which gave him a chance to showcase his choreography talent beyond the borders.
This is how he met Qaphile Putsoane, the national director for Miss Environment South Africa. He chronicles, “I met Putsoane in June while we were in India during the Miss Environment Grand Pageant. She was with the beautiful Nokwazi Ndwandwe (Miss Environment South Africa) who had won Miss Icora FM.”
His good character impressed Pustoane, who then expressed interest in working with Murangandi in a foreseeable future. Her promise has manifested into this Miss Icora gig. “I was never hesitant to be of help whenever I could, so Putsoane really got interested in working with me after she had seen all the hard work and help I was putting in for my dear African sisters. She then told me that I was going to be part of the choreography team for the forthcoming Miss Icora FM 2023, and of course that has been fulfilled,” he explains.
The model is ecstatic for the opportunity to witness and participate in a pageant in South Africa, widely considered the best pageant country in Africa. He is hoping to learn a few pointers and bring the knowledge back home to better the Zimbabwean modeling industry.
“To be honest I’m still in awe. I mean it’s South Africa, the home of art and talent falling in love with a Bulawayo boy. It’s one of the biggest happenings of my life this year. Of course I expect fireworks, creativity and a massive production from the Icora FM team as well as learning from them and bringing home newly learnt skills and knowledge,” Murangandi beams.
Miss Icora FM is an initiative of Indonsakusa Community Radio commonly known as ICORA FM, a community radio based at Empangeni in the northern part of Kwa-Zulu Natal. It was formed out of the conviction that the station would stimulate and guide conversations that lead the Empangeni community to action.
Murangandi shall be coordinating the choreography done by the models on the big day, consult on the models’ wardrobe, as well as the sequencing of the runway show, among other administrative tasks.
You can follow the build up and all the action at Miss Icora FM 2023 via their Instagram page.
