Winner in “Mr. Ugly” Pageant Criticized for Being Actually Handsome

You may have grown tired hearing that “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”; but with the recent Mr.Ugly 2015 Pageant in Zimbabwe, perhaps changing the adage to “Ugliness is in the eye of the beholder” is more befitting.

Questions on the “standard of ugliness” arose when several of the contestants and their supporters expressed disappointment over the pageant winner. They claimed that the crowned Mr.Ugly champion, 42-year old Mison Sere is actually “handsome” and is not fit to win the title.

The reigning Mr. Ugly Zimbabwe 2015, Mison Sere

The 2-time Mr. Ugly Champion, William Masvinu came in as 1st runner up this year and is the main critic of Sere. Masvinu claims that Sere’s ugliness is based only on his missing front teeth, while he was naturally born ugly. To quote, “If you are missing front teeth that does not make you ugly. You need natural ugliness from birth. I am naturally ugly”. Another contestant named Patrick Mupereki expressed “Do we have to lose our teeth to win? This is cheating”

The dethroned 2-time Mr. Ugly Champion (2012 and 2013), William Masvinu

The complaints escalated to the point where the contestants mobbed the judges with some pushing and shoving going on around after the results were out. Luckily nobody was reported to have sustained any injuries. One of the judges, Abigail Mataranyika stand by their choice defending that, “Sere made tremendous effort to enhance his ugliness by pulling facial stunts… Masvinu thought he is so ugly so he didn’t try too hard”.

As for the Mr.Ugly 2015, Mison Sere, he said that the other contestants should just accept the outcome saying “They should just accept that I am uglier than them”. He also hopes to be recognized and get a TV contract. “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” The cash prize of $500 is also a big help for him and his family. In his speech, he also thanked God for giving him his ugliness.

Winner Mison Sere and his supporters were undeniably happy with the outcome.

The start of fame and recognition. Several audiences wanted a picture with Sere after he was crowned Mr. Ugly 2015.

As for the event organizer David Machowa, he reiterates that the annual Mr. Ugly pageant was conceptualized to remove social stigmas on ugliness. He is even aspiring to promote the contest to other countries not just Zimbabwe, and hold a Mr. Ugly World contest in the future.

What do you think of this pageant and the outcome? Share your thoughts and this news.

Source: theguardian.com