Mutsawashe Mashandure Arts Correspondent
Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2023 representative Brooke Bruk Jackson is back home from the international pageant show held recently at the José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Brooke arrived yesterday afternoon at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and was welcomed by officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, members of Miss Universe Zimbabwe and local modelling players.
The 21-year-old said she was happy taking part at the Miss Universe show, making it in the top 10 finalists of the Voice for Change competition.
Brooke said despite all the experiences in El Salvador, she missed sadza for the days she was away. “It is good to be back and I feel happy that I did well, representing my country to make it to the top 10 in the Voice For Change competition,” she said. “Thank you for welcoming me, but I can’t wait to get my hands on sadza and vegetables. I miss sadza so much. The food in El Salvador was not my favourite.” Brooke said this week she wanted to rest as the pageant was draining.
“I just want to rest for now. I am very tired. From day one up to the day of checking out in boot camp it was hectic,” she said.
Brooke said she had no regrets about the Miss Universe pageant as she believed she did her best, not only in representing the country, but promoting it as well.
“My goal was to put Zimbabwe back on the map, and just by being pigmented, I put Zimbabwe back on the map,” she said. “Everybody who was at Miss Universe now knows about Zimbabwe. I can tell you that, in fact, the top 10 Voices for a Change was one of the most challenging in the competition.
“I didn’t manage to get into the top 20 or top 3, but still, everyone now knows about us. The competition was tough, but I have learnt a lot, it was close to my heart; it’s a piece of Zimbabwe, and it means a lot that I have come with it. I don’t have regrets.” The beauty queen said she has a goal to raise the Zimbabwe flag in the next few years.
“My goal is simply to market, change Zimbabwe, and raise our national flag high,” she said. “I am going to fulfil my duty up to until next year and keep working with the informal sector to make social change. I want to be an ambassador of social change.”
Speaking at the same event, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Winnie Muchanyuka, who was representing Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi, endorsed Brooke and said they were happy with her achievements.
“We are so excited to have this girl and the achievements that she has made for our country,” she said. “She has influenced so many people at the pageant, and her message can only help bring these people to the country and also be the voice of Zimbabwe, which makes our job easier. “We are so proud of being the voice of change, especially when she talked about working with the informal sector. The spirit of tourism is good because a lot of the people that we are working with are actually from the informal sector.
“We are looking forward to working with you and to continuing to carry Zimbabwe wherever you go.” – The Herald
