Imagine a contest where the goal is to be crowned the ugliest person. It sounds absurd, right? Yet, in Zimbabwe, the Mr. Ugly contest has become a fiercely competitive event, with participants going to great lengths to prove they deserve the title.
With a $500 prize at stake in a struggling economy, you can understand why.
In 2015, Harare hosted the fourth annual Mr. Ugly contest, and for the first time, a new champion was crowned.
The late Maison Sere clinched the title, dethroning three-time winner William Masvinu.
The unexpected result ignited a storm of controversy, with Masvinu’s camp crying foul and accusing the judges of bias.
“I am naturally ugly. He is not. He is ugly only when he opens his mouth,” Masvinu fumed, his face twisted in frustration.
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“Do we have to lose our teeth to win? This is cheating,” bellowed another contestant, Patrick Mupereki, waving his hands in disbelief.
But the late Sere, basking in his newfound glory, shrugged off their complaints with a grin that showcased the very gaps in question. “I simply won because I am uglier than they are,” he declared confidently. “I want to thank God for winning this title.
Last time I came fourth. I just want to thank the judges for recognizing me as the winner.”
As the uproar continued, Sere remained unfazed, standing by his triumph. “They should just accept that I am uglier than them,” he added with a smirk.
Sere’s ambitions didn’t stop at the prize money. “I hope to get a TV contract. I already move around schools performing and showcasing my ugliness, so this is a chance to make it on TV,” he revealed.
The drama surrounding the Mr. Ugly contest was a mix of comedy and chaos, a testament to the lengths people will go for recognition—and a bit of cash. In the end, beauty, or rather ugliness, truly was in the eye of the beholder.
May soul of rest in peace.
