Zimbabwean representative Atipa Busuman has placed among the top ten at Mrs Universe 2026, using the international pageant’s cultural-costume stage to tell a story rooted in the country’s heritage.
Her presentation, titled “Hungwe Huru: Guardian of Zimbabwe’s Wonders,” drew on the Great Zimbabwe Bird and the stone city of Great Zimbabwe, while also referencing the country’s landscapes and wildlife. The design connected a national symbol with a place whose monumental dry-stone walls speak to a sophisticated society and its long regional trading links.
The Mrs Universe final was held in Sri Lanka on October 24. Zimbabwean coverage published this week reported Busuman’s top-ten finish and highlighted the cultural narrative behind her costume. The result does not make her the overall winner: that title went to Monaco’s Isidora Ranković.
A costume built around a national emblem
The bird motif is a recognisable image from Great Zimbabwe, where carved soapstone birds were found among the ruins. The site became a capital and trading centre developed by Shona communities between the 11th and 15th centuries. It remains one of southern Africa’s most significant archaeological places and is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage property.
Busuman’s concept widened the frame beyond the ruins, tying the bird to Zimbabwe’s natural landmarks, including Victoria Falls, and to the country’s wildlife. That approach gave the outfit a clear pageant purpose: present a national identity through an image legible on stage, then invite viewers to look up the history behind it.
Pageant costumes compress a great deal into a short walk under bright lights. The best ones do more than signal a flag; they offer a point of entry to a place and its people. Busuman’s top-ten placement gives Zimbabwe a moment of visibility at the 2026 event, while the costume’s references give that visibility a historical anchor.
Her result is also a reminder that international pageants are increasingly judged as showcases of cultural storytelling as well as presentation. For Zimbabwe, the Great Zimbabwe Bird carries both artistic force and a record of an urban civilisation whose influence reached well beyond the stone enclosure.
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