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Top Star Model

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Robert Mukondiwa

Robert Mukondiwa

Body-shamed to

Top-Star Model.

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Felistas Mutendi is a young girl on influence to make a difference. Decades ago, moda mission if l might put it that way eling was a silent profession, where women were and have been a model for top supposed to be seen and never heard, but just like brands such as BAZAAR, Crop l have alluded before times have changed the world Clothing among others. Born and is now embracing the efforts and positive vibes that raised in the beaming heart of women spread. It is a fact that cannot be denied that Africa in a country not far away most industries remain overrun with problems that from the bottom of Africa, Ziminclude labor exploitation, sexual harassment and babwe. I grew up surrounded by a very large, God body shaming against women and these problems fearing and loving family and did my primary and are not absent as well in the modeling industry as in high school education in Zimbabwe. It was during most cases models are trivialized and our concerns my time in High School that my dilemma began l as women are seen as nothing and quickly brushed am naturally a tall and slender person and l might off all in the name of us being women. I strongly say l received a fair enough moment of body shambelieved it could have been a different issue if this ing from my fellow girls because of my physical apwas a male dominated industry then alone people pearance. However, l would always find comfort in would not turn a blind eye to these inhuman acmy brother who gave me the strength to ignore the tivities. As a young women born and raised in the negative and look for the positive in that .After findust and jungles of Africa, Zimbabwe to be specific ishing my high school l moved on to Poland where l full of cultural diversity that is rich l have embraced am currently based right now studying Nursing .Just modeling as a symbol of self-expression, women as they always say never plan for a full day ahead for empowerment and through my social media l try we don’t know how tomorrow might turn out so as to put across a message of unity ,togetherness and l was walking in the street on this particular day a resilience of all women worldwide through fashion. guy approached me’ asked if l had ever done modAs we embark on the journey to reclaim our posieling to which l had not and had never imagined of tion in the world as women lets be inspired by the being one .He told me my physical structure was following songs BROWN SKIN GIRL” ………… exactly what was lacking in their studios l got an Your skin just like pearls the best thing in the world, invitation for a photo shoot and the rest followed l never trades you for anybody else.” Favela “As the and here we are today .The same tall and slender sun rises she opens up her Hazel beautiful eyes and image that subjected me the horns of a dilemma has begins her baby cries she picks him up ……..”. No seen me going places and l always carry with me the matter how hard we fall on the journey lets gather encouraging words from my brother “ignore the our strength” lets rise like a phoenix out of the ashes negative and look for the positive in that negativity. seeking rather than vengeance retribution you were

“However, in this modern society we should realwarned.” ize that body shaming has been one of the biggest challenges affecting women worldwide and l am very privileged to have come on the International stage of modelling at a time l can be heard, use my 46

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