Mzolisi Zibusiso Mtshayisa Turns Pageant Success Into a Mission to Build Bulawayo’s Next Generation of Models
For Mzolisi Zibusiso Mtshayisa, the runway represents far more than fashion, competition and applause. The 2023 Mr Bulawayo winner has transformed his own modelling experience into a platform for developing young talent and strengthening Bulawayo’s creative industry. Today, he works across several areas of the industry as a model coach, groomer, pageant organiser and brand ambassador. His journey reflects a growing commitment to helping aspiring models gain the confidence, discipline, exposure and professional guidance needed to build sustainable careers. Rather than treating his own titles as the final destination, Mtshayisa is using his experience to create opportunities for others.
That vision was recently brought into focus at the Panthers Academy Fashion Showcase and Crowning Night in Bulawayo, where fashion, music and pageantry came together for a celebration of emerging creative talent. The event created a platform for models and designers while giving contestants an opportunity to experience the discipline and excitement associated with pageantry. Ntandoyenkosi Mpofu was crowned Miss Panthers Queen 2026, while Ashley Junior Chipayi claimed the Mr Panthers King 2026 title. The Teen titles went to Melisa Moyo and Thobani Lova, while Hope Ndlovu was crowned Little Miss Panthers 2026. Although the crowning moments provided the biggest highlights of the evening, Mtshayisa viewed the event as part of a much broader effort to revive and strengthen the Bulawayo modelling industry.
Reflecting on the event, Mtshayisa expressed gratitude to the people of Bulawayo who supported the showcase and contributed to its success. He described the occasion as an important step towards rebuilding interest and momentum within the city’s modelling sector. His comments highlight the importance of creating local platforms where aspiring models can gain practical experience without having to rely entirely on opportunities outside Bulawayo. Events such as the Panthers Academy Fashion Showcase can also connect models with designers, photographers, organisers and other creatives who contribute to the wider fashion ecosystem. For Mtshayisa, bringing these groups together is an important part of creating a stronger and more connected modelling community.
Mtshayisa’s own record in pageantry gives him significant experience to draw from as he mentors emerging models. His achievements include winning Mr Bulawayo in 2023, finishing as runner-up at Misters of Zimbabwe in 2024, representing Zimbabwe as Mister Earth Zimbabwe 2025 and becoming Man of the World Zimbabwe 2026. He has also been recognised through three Bulawayo Models Awards nominations and received an award in 2024. Beyond competing, he serves as Brand Ambassador for Signature Suits Bulawayo, Co-Director of Misters of Zimbabwe and Vice Secretary General of the Bulawayo Models Association. These roles have allowed him to experience different sides of the modelling and pageantry industry, from competing and representing brands to organising events and supporting industry development.
His decision to focus on grooming young talent was shaped by lessons from his own career. Mtshayisa says his experience taught him that natural ability alone does not guarantee success in modelling. He encountered young people with strong potential who lacked the guidance, exposure and support needed to turn that potential into professional opportunities. Those experiences encouraged him to think beyond his own ambitions and consider how he could help create pathways for others. His work at Panthers Academy has therefore become an extension of his personal development as a model and a way to contribute to the future of the industry.
For Mtshayisa, successful modelling involves much more than physical appearance. He places strong emphasis on confidence, discipline, willingness to learn and a positive attitude when assessing aspiring models. These qualities can determine how a model handles training, auditions, rejection, professional commitments and opportunities to work with different creatives. Technical skills such as runway walking, posing and presentation can be developed through consistent coaching, but character and professionalism require a deeper commitment from the individual. His approach suggests that effective model development should prepare young people not only to look confident on stage but also to conduct themselves professionally away from the runway.
The Panthers Academy initiative also reflects Mtshayisa’s belief that pageantry should have a purpose beyond producing winners. He sees Mr and Miss Panthers 2026 as a platform that can bring together models, designers, photographers and other creatives while encouraging contestants to develop leadership skills. This broader approach gives participants an opportunity to think about their influence and the causes they want to represent. Pageantry can provide visibility, but Mtshayisa wants contestants to understand how they can use that visibility responsibly. By connecting fashion and modelling with confidence, leadership and advocacy, he hopes to create participants who can contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Collaboration remains another major theme in Mtshayisa’s vision for Bulawayo’s modelling industry. He believes the city has talented models and creatives who can achieve more when they work together rather than operating in isolated groups. Competition will always form part of modelling and pageantry, but he argues that rivalry should not prevent people from supporting one another or sharing opportunities. Stronger collaboration between models, designers, photographers, pageant organisers, agencies and brands could create a more sustainable local fashion ecosystem. His message is particularly relevant for emerging creatives who need networks, mentorship and professional opportunities to establish themselves in an increasingly competitive industry.
Mtshayisa’s interests also extend beyond modelling and pageantry, giving him a diverse creative and community-focused profile. He is a vocalist and instrumentalist, while also working as an aerobics coach, demonstrating his involvement in different forms of performance and physical development. He has also used his platform to advocate for animal welfare, including working with Free To Be Wild Sanctuary during his Mister Earth Zimbabwe 2025 journey. These activities reinforce his belief that public platforms can be used to promote causes and encourage positive action. His career therefore combines fashion, performance, fitness, advocacy and mentorship rather than being limited to traditional pageant responsibilities.
His advice to young creatives reflects the lessons he has gathered throughout his own journey. Mtshayisa encourages aspiring models to understand that success requires discipline, professionalism, confidence and resilience. Rejection is an unavoidable part of a competitive industry, but he believes young people should treat each setback as an opportunity to learn rather than a reason to abandon their ambitions. He also stresses the importance of remaining coachable and investing in personal development because the industry continues to evolve. For young models in Bulawayo and beyond, his message is clear: build your skills, maintain professional standards, learn from every opportunity and remain committed to growth.
Mzolisi Zibusiso Mtshayisa’s journey demonstrates how success in pageantry can evolve into a broader commitment to developing other people. His collection of titles and industry roles has given him valuable experience, but his current focus is increasingly centred on mentorship, collaboration and creating platforms for emerging talent. The Panthers Academy Fashion Showcase and Crowning Night provided another example of how he is putting that vision into practice by bringing together models, creatives and pageant contestants in Bulawayo. His efforts could play an important role in encouraging greater cooperation and renewed confidence within the city’s modelling community. By treating the runway as a starting point rather than a finish line, Mtshayisa is positioning himself not only as a successful model but also as someone helping shape the future of Bulawayo’s fashion and pageantry industry.
