Miss Grand Zimbabwe Winner Rose Chihera Says AI Is Expanding Creativity, Not Replacing It
Miss Grand Zimbabwe, Rose Chihera, says artificial intelligence is reshaping the creative industry by removing barriers rather than replacing human creativity. She argues that AI is already embedded in everyday digital tools and that many people use it without realising it. Her view challenges the growing fear that AI threatens authenticity in fields such as photography, fashion, and content creation. As a beauty queen who has also used AI tools to edit and enhance images, she speaks from practical experience rather than theory. She believes the real conversation should focus on how people use technology, not whether they use it at all.
Chihera explains that many features people consider normal in social media apps are already powered by AI. Filters that smooth skin, adjust lighting, blur backgrounds, or enhance photos are all forms of artificial intelligence in action. She says the debate around AI often ignores this reality and creates unnecessary confusion. In her view, the distinction between traditional editing and AI-driven tools is becoming smaller every year. She encourages people to rethink how they define authenticity in a digital-first world.
She also highlights how creative production has changed compared to the past. In earlier years, producing high-quality visuals required professional photographers, studios, lighting equipment, and expensive editing services. She notes that magazines and commercial campaigns often cost significant amounts of money to produce a single set of images. Today, similar results can be achieved using a smartphone and accessible editing tools in a matter of minutes. This shift has made creative expression more affordable and more accessible to a wider range of people.
For Chihera, AI represents the next stage of this evolution rather than a disruption. She believes that tools will continue to improve and become more integrated into everyday creative processes. Instead of resisting these changes, she encourages creatives to understand and adapt to them early. She says those who learn how to use AI effectively will have a stronger advantage in the future. In her view, technology does not eliminate creativity but expands the ways in which it can be expressed.
She also pushes back against the idea that digital enhancement automatically means something is fake. According to her, the focus should be on intention and control over personal image. She argues that individuals now have more power to decide how they present themselves to the world. This control includes choosing how images are edited, styled, and shared across platforms. She believes this shift gives creators more ownership over their identity rather than less.
Chihera encourages young creatives, influencers, and entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe to embrace AI early. She says early adoption will help them stay competitive in a fast-changing digital environment. She believes that those who understand new tools first are often the ones who lead trends later. Her message is centered on learning, experimentation, and confidence in using available technology. She views AI as a skill set that can open doors in multiple industries, not only entertainment or fashion.
Her perspective adds to a wider industry debate about the role of artificial intelligence in creative work. Arts and culture commentator Plot Mhako also describes AI as both exciting and unsettling. He acknowledges that it can speed up production, inspire ideas, and support experimentation in music and art. At the same time, he raises concerns about identity, emotion, and cultural depth being diluted when AI replicates human expression without context. He believes art is rooted in lived experience and must remain grounded in human storytelling.
Mhako also stresses that AI should be used with clear boundaries and intention. He warns that while the technology is powerful, it must not replace the emotional and cultural meaning behind artistic work. His view highlights the tension between innovation and preservation in creative industries. Both perspectives reflect a growing conversation about how technology should be integrated into art without losing authenticity. This debate is becoming more relevant as AI tools become more advanced and widely available.
Rose Chihera’s stance presents a forward-looking view that embraces change while encouraging responsibility. She sees AI as a tool that enhances creativity when used correctly and thoughtfully. Her experience as a public figure in fashion and entertainment gives weight to her argument about digital identity and image control. She believes the future of creativity will belong to those who understand and adapt to new tools rather than resist them. As the creative industry continues to evolve, her message reinforces the idea that technology and creativity can grow together rather than in opposition.
