Twenty finalists who are to contest the Miss Zwashu 2007 title were selected during a private selection held at the Thohoyandou Arts and Culture Centre on November 17.

The contest is completely different from other beauty contests because it will be more traditional and the finalists will contest wearing mukhasi and the traditional Venda costume, shedo, which is today referred as a G-string.

The contest is being organized by the non-profit organization Zwashu Indigenous and Cultural Dance and will take place on December 7. One of the objectives of Zwashu is to preserve various indigenous dances through staging cultural dances competition. The contest organizers will provide the finalists with shedo and mukhasi. According to the arrangement, the beauties are expected to bring their own traditional Venda attire.

The ages of the girls selected to battle it out to be crowned as Miss Zwashu 2007 range from 16 to 20. All the finalists paid a joining fee of R100 to participate in the traditional beauty contest.

This week, Mrs Nthangeni of Mass Computer Training College confirmed that she had already paid accommodation for two days and nights for the contestants and other important guests at Avkhom Hotel. "In an event like this one, which is aimed at teaching our young girls the moral fibre of our tradition, we felt as a College that we could not wait for the organizers to approach us. We are of the view that all the finalists will learn a lot out of this contest in terms of their culture and tradition. We are not ashamed to be associated with events that are aimed at preserving the tradition of the indigenous people of Venda," she said.

The chief executive officer of Netges South Africa, Mr Livhuwani Netshilema, handed over a complete computer system to the organizers of the event a week ago. He also bought 20 T-shirts for the finalists. Adv Sydwell Mutheiwana Sikhwari also contributed financially towards the contest, while the main sponsors of the beauty contest are Mrs Sophie Nenngwekhulu and Mr Tshianeo Mathidi.

A panel of judges, including well-known traditional healer Mashudu Dima, Mrs Murabeli Elsie Rasalanavho, who plays the role of Vho-Mukondeleli on the SABC2 drama Muvhango, and others has been set up.

At the time of our going to press, the organizers were still discussing the possibility of arranging a public parade of the finalists as another way of presenting them to the people around theThohoyandou complex.

The marketing officer of Zwashu, Mr Norman Khaphathe Phophi, said that people should come in large numbers to see young girls proudly displaying their beauty, wearing shedo and other traditional Venda dresses. "Everything at the contest will preferably be African - the food, the girls´ hairstyles and music - it will be purely African," he said.

The contest will be staged at Munakisi hall, Muledane, at 18:00. The entrance fee is R50.

The Miss Zwashu 2007 finalists as they will appear in the line-up are as follows: Gudani Nelwamondo, Khakhu Ligege, Chrispalent Booi, Lufuno Mercy Nemavhola, Olive Mudzunga Booi, Mufunwa Judy Khaukanani, Tracy Thingahangwi Tshivhase, Nyelisani Ratshiedana, Mashudu Takalani, Prudence Khuliso Sihadi, Rendani Angela Netshivhumbe, Pfarelo Ivy Khorommbi, Ntodiseni Novhe, Phathutshedzo Matodzi, Tshinane Lithole, Hulisani Marandela, Mulanga Mudau, Mueletshedzi Munyai and Mukhethwa Mukwevho.