HARARE (Web Desk) – A 42-year-old unemployed man was crowned Zimbabwe’s ugliest man at a ‘beauty pageant’ earlier this week.
However, the contest turned real ugly when the runner-up accused judges of bias, Emirates247 reported.
Maison Sere, who was missing several teeth and dressed in torn overalls, beat off five other contestants for the $500 Mr Ugly prize – a large sum in a country facing massive unemployment.
“I want to thank God for winning this title, last time I came fourth. I just want to thank the judges for recognising me as the winner,” Sere told journalists during a night of festivities attended by 200 revelers.
But William Masvinu, a three-time Mr Ugly winner who walked off with a $100 second prize this year, cried foul.
“The judges were not fair, the organisers must look for new judges to start the contest afresh. I did not lose today,” Masvinu said.
Show organiser David Machowa said he created the pageant in 2012 to celebrate “beauty in ugliness”.
This year’s competition attracted a record number of 36 entries, compared to just five in 2012 when Masvinu began his winning streak. The competition was suspended in 2014 due to a lack of sponsorship, but this year the owners of a string of Harare nightclubs donated $1,000.
