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This year was Zimbabwe’s 4th annual “Mister Ugly” contest. 42-year-old Mison Sere was crowned the winner. He beat out 35 other contestants, including William Masvinu – who has held the title since 2012. The crowd was very unhappy with the decision and believed Sere was not ugly enough to win.
He won because of his missing teeth
David Machowa, the organizer of the Mr. Ugly pageant, said that the purpose of the competition is to challenge the stigma of ugliness.
“Looks are God-given,” he said. “We should all be proud of who we are.”
When the competition first started in 2012, there were only five entries. This year, 36 people entered the pageant. After three rounds of modelling down a catwalk, the decision was made. The judges of the competition declared Sere the rightful winner, on account of him missing several front teeth and pulled a wide range of grotesque facial expressions.
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Some people believe that he cheated
Once the winner was announced, the other competitors and some members of the audience protested the decision. It got a little ugly, with pushing, shoving, and insults being shouted at the judges; luckily, no one was injured. They claimed that Sere is not actually ugly and is only unattractive when he shows his teeth. The rules of the competition accept only natural ugliness, not disabilities nor enhancements. The dethroned champion, Masvinu, proclaimed:
“I am naturally ugly. He is not. He is ugly only when he opens his mouth,” maintained Masvinu. “Do we have to lose our teeth to win? This is cheating,” another contestant Patrick Mupereki shouted.
Sere thinks that they are all being “sore losers”
Sere was not bothered by the reaction.
“They should just accept that I am uglier than them,” he said.
He won $500 while his runner-up Masvinu won $100. Masvinu said that winning the competition in the past has helped him gain fame and land some small marketing contracts. “To be rewarded is a good thing, this competition has done a lot for me, it’s changed my life,” he said. Judge Abigail Mataranyika defended her decision.
“Sere made tremendous effort to enhance his ugliness by pulling facial stunts. Masvinu thought he is so ugly that he didn’t need to try hard. That cost him the crown.”
Sere wants to be on TV
Sere hopes to get the same perks from winning that Masvinu experienced, but he is aiming even higher.
“I hope to get a TV contract. I already moved around schools performing and showcasing my ugliness so this is a chance to make it on TV.”
