Zimbabwe’s Shelly Bent Makes Top 12 at Universal Woman Pageant in India

Zimbabwean beauty queen Shelly Bent has secured a spot in the Top 12 of the Universal Woman pageant, becoming the only contestant from Africa to achieve this milestone.

The competition, held in Jaipur, India, from August 1 to 10, brings together women from around the world to share experiences, talents, and leadership skills. Bent joins contestants from Cuba, Chile, Bolivia, Vietnam, Colombia, Arabia, Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Estonia, and the Philippines in the Top 12.

The preliminary round will take place on August 8, with the grand finale set for August 10. Bent has also made the Top 12 in the talent competition, where she will present a creative performance to the jury.

She revealed that her talent performance is a tribute to her recovering brother. “This one is for you Jamie. I am beyond honoured to represent Zimbabwe. My performance is for anyone in the community who feels alone. You are not. I will keep standing,” she said.

The Universal Woman pageant positions itself as an “international congress of successful women,” combining traditional beauty pageant elements with leadership and advocacy platforms. Contestants will present on one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals during the International Congress of Successful Women segment.

Unlike many beauty contests, Universal Woman allows married women, mothers, and transgender women to participate. The age range for contestants is 25 to 45 years. The current titleholder, Maria Gigante of the Philippines, was crowned at 30.

Bent’s achievement marks a significant moment for Zimbabwean pageantry, as she stands as the continent’s sole representative in the competition’s final stages.