“I inspired myself with no history in the modeling industry, Miss UNZA was the first beauty pageant I contested in and amazingly I carried the day,” says newly crowned Miss UNZA 2013, Audrey Banda
Soft spoken Miss UNZA 2013 Audrey Banda says her newly achieved crown has inspired her to consider participating in other modeling gigs.
Groomed by former Miss UNZA winners Samantha Gabriel (2010) and Nkombo Mwiinga (2011), the 21 year old says she is now more passionate about modeling and hopes to take it further.
Miss UNZA is a beauty pageant that is staged every second semester of an academic year, one that is meant for socialisation and entertainment. This year’s contest was held on 5 July 2013.
In an interview with the Lusaka Star, Audrey, who is a first year Library and Information Studies student says she had to sacrifice sleep, studying and assignments in order to be fully equipped for the contest.
Audrey is the second born and only girl in a family of three; she lives with her mum in Lusaka’s Chalala area and enjoys reading novels, watching television and going out for movies.
“For me modeling comes naturally and I easily grasped the game of modeling, I was not as passionate about modeling but after being crowned Miss UNZA, I am now more zealous than ever and I want to take it further if I can,” she says.
Audrey recalls that when she auditioned for Miss UNZA, her family did not welcome the idea but gave her the support later on.
“My mum was taken aback when I told her about my intentions of contesting because she believes in school first, but later opened up to the idea and gave me a go ahead” she added.
Audrey encourages aspiring models not to give up but try harder in their future aspirations.
She says it is all about being able to smile the whole time one is on stage, being confident, being proud and believing you can achieve anything.
Audrey hopes to venture into fashion, starting with being a personality in fashion shows with her friend Charlotte who is a freelance designer.
Audrey’s former high school classmate and friend, Thelma Mwila says she is happy that her friend won the Miss UNZA title.
“Modeling really brings out the best in her, it feels good to see a friend and former class mate participate and emerge victorious in such recognised events,” says Thelma.
Audrey emerged victorious after beating seven other contestants among them first princess Esther Mwale, second princess Aminata Mporokoso and miss personality Mwape Chalwe.
Audrey is set to represent Zambia in the 2014 Miss African Universities.