Fancy being Mr Universe but think it looks like a bit too much work? You could always try your luck in a less demanding contest by competing for the title of Mr Ugly, Zimbabwe's most unusual "beauty" pageant.
Held in a nightclub in the capital city, Harare, and sponsored by local businesses, Mr Ugly Zimbabwe has been an institution since 2011 – and despite attracting some criticism, only seems to be increasing in popularity.
Just like a regular beauty pageant, Mr Ugly isn't all about looks – the champion has to impress the audience with his catwalk flair and show off his personality in a question-and-answer round.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Participants get token prizes of clothes or groceries, with cash prizes for the runners-up.
However, the lucky winner gets to walk away with the all-important Mr Ugly crown, as well as cash and other goodies.
A chance to be voted Zimbabwe's ugliest man might not seem like the most attractive prospect, but event organiser David Machowa says that, on the contrary, the contest has become so popular that this year preliminary rounds will be introduced to whittle down the large number of hopefuls. They'll have their work cut out to defeat reigning champion William Masvinu, a local market porter who has held the title since the contest started in 2011.
"My ugliness comes naturally to me," he boasted after defending his title in 2012. Masvinu even has a manager, who ascribes his client's success to his "choreography" and "funny clothing".
"We are looking for natural ugliness," Machowa told Associated Press. "People have always seen ugliness as something to be ashamed of," he said. "Looks are God given. We should all be proud of who we are."
Machowa plans to expand the Mr Ugly pageant to neighbouring countries – but there are no current plans to launch a Miss Ugly contest.
-
Will California’s Proposition 50 kill gerrymandering reform?Talking Points Or is opposing Trump the greater priority for voters?
-
‘The trickle of shutdowns could soon become a flood’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Wikipedia: Is ‘neutrality’ still possible?Feature Wikipedia struggles to stay neutral as conservatives accuse the site of being left-leaning
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
