24 October 2009
SUPERMODEL Greatmore Chatya's first words sound like a cliché: "Zimbabwe as my country has not given me respect. I am a stranger in my own house." These words have been said over and over again by Zimbabwean personalities based abroad.
Reggae musician Buffalo Souljah who is based in South Africa is one such person who candidly revealed to Standardplus recently that he felt "Zimbabwe just does not honour its children the way other countries do."
Chatya who was groomed locally by Silhouette modelling agency when she was in Form III has been a revelation in other countries.
Although she barely made it into the top 16 at the 2002 Miss Zimbabwe pageant it was her being voted the Super Photogenic of the Zimbabwe's 2003 supermodel edition that kick-started her meteoric rise to fame and fortune.
Dale Hardney of the supermodel showcase, who has a keen eye for talent, invited her back to take part in the 2004 Supermodel pageant.
She did not disappoint as she went on to win the coveted title.
"Hardney gave me what I have today because she had confidence in my abilities.
"Winning the supermodel was a giant step towards my dream and I am living it," Chatya said.
In 2005 she auditioned for the prestigious Nokia Face of Africa going all the way to the finals in South Africa where she made it into the top five.
Botswana model, Kaone Kario won the edition.
The Face of Africa pageant was the one that produced Nigerian model Oluchi Onweagba who is based in New York City, where she has made a huge impact for Africa.
Onweagba has graced the covers of Italian fashion magazine Vogue, i-D, ELLE, Untold and Surface and she also was featured in Nylon, Marie Claire, Allure and other national editions of Vogue around the world.
Chatya said: "I saw no reason after my good run in the competition (Face of Africa) to sit and stare at the world as it passed.
"I wanted to do great for myself but mostly for my country. I stood up and did the only thing I knew: modeling."
Placed firmly in the spotlight she made an appearance in the prestigious SA Sports Illustrated magazine and was also featured on the cover of Shape magazine.
Chatya's also features in the Truworths Lingerie Christmas feature.
The statuesque model was also part of the SoccerBabes magazine shoot in Cairo and she has completed shoots for big companies, Drostdy Hof and Farenheit Clothing.
Then last year she was selected to be the face of Nevea.
She said: "Right now I have contracts with South Africa's largest mobile service provider MTN and I am also doing advertising for Jik in Kenya and Nigeria. I am working with Edgars and Pep as well as Brand Braids."
She has been to New York, UK and many African countries showcasing her talent and making photo shots for clothing magazines and retail shops.
But despite all her success that saw her driving a Grand Cherokee and Rav 4 plus living in her own house in Cape Town, South Africa in the suburb of Green Point, she feels Zimbabwe does not appreciate her.
"I have done a lot out there with other countries but since I left Zimbabwe in 2005 I have never done any work with anyone here.
"Actually modeling is no longer what it used to be," she said
She said she attended one of the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe events where she was "shocked" to see an undeserving candidate running away with the prize.
"How can you have a soccer coach judging a beauty pageant?" Chatya queried.
"I also saw a rugby player on the judges' panel. Those guys know nothing about what constitutes a beautiful model. At the end they look at the ... and that's it, they have a winner."
She also bemoaned lack of professionalism in the industry saying it was important for models to take over.
Chatya said: "I cannot convince myself to watch any pageant here. The choreography is poor and it's a total embarrassment to watch this with other friends in the field.
"Something has to be done and it starts with recognising that people like me, Patience Tafirenyika and Jonathan Denga who have done well and have been fortunate to be exposed can help the local modeling industry."
At one point during the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel Tourism Fair, Chatya who attended was not even acknowledged.
"I am not recognised in my own country.
"I was sitting there with the povo (ordinary attendees) and wondered if at all this has to do with just pure lack of appreciation for our achievers.
"Maybe I should try swimming and be a Kirsty Coventry, maybe only then can I be recognised," she said.
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