It is not just in beauty contests where there are accusations of cheating. Even in a unique pageant held in Zimbabwe, called "Mister Ugly," the contest was marred by a riot after the audience questioned the choice of winner.
The Associated Press reports that 42-year-old Mison Sere, who was chosen on Saturday the winner, upset supporters of William Masvinu, the titleholder since 2012. The judges cited Sere's missing front teeth and wide range of grotesque facial expression as the reason why they chose him winner.
But supporters of Masvinu, who mobbed the judges, say that Sere is "too handsome" in comparison to Masvinu and they also questioned his ugliness which was not natural because it was based only on missing teeth.
It was not only Masvinu - who insists he is naturally ugly and Sere only becomes ugly when he opens his mouth - who questioned the judges' decision. Another loser, Patrick Mupereki, asks, "Do we have to lose our teeth to win?" Mupereki adds, "This is cheating."
Despite the riot, there were no injuries even if the crowd pushed and pulled each other after the results were announced. Sere got $500 as prize money, saying, "I should just accept that I am uglier than them." Sere calls the protesters "sore losers," reports Newsweek.
Abigail Mataranyika, one of the judges and a university student, explains that Sere exerted effort to enhance his ugliness through facial stunts, while Masvinu was complacent that because of his ugliness, he did not have to try hard. "That cost him the crown," she says.
Sere hopes to get a TV contract. In the meantime, he goes around schools performing and showcasing his mug. To win the contest, Sere and the 35 other contestants took part in three rounds of modeling as individual and group at a catwalk of a nightclub in Harare.
David Machowa, who organized the pageant, says he did it to change people's perception of "ugly people." He explains, "Looks are God given. We should all be proud of who we are."