Ruvhie make-up challenge gathers steam

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MEDIA personality Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa, who has chosen to bare her true original self by foregoing make-up, says the move was meant to get men to respect and appreciate women in their own skin shades.

BY CHELSEA MUSAFARE

MEDIA personality Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa, who has chosen to bare her true original self by foregoing make-up, says the move was meant to get men to respect and appreciate women in their own skin shades.

She said it was time women felt comfortable in their untampered real beauty without fear of judgement.

The challenge, which was generated by social media users in response to the video that the media personality had posted on Tuesday morning, stemmed from Ruvheneko’s “statement” to men and women who are uncomfortable with the impression of a woman with no make-up.

“The #RuvhenekoChallenge itself was not coined or started by me,” Parirenyatwa said.

“It was generated by Twitter users in response to a video I posted of myself with no makeup.

“The video itself was my personal statement to men and women who are uncomfortable with the idea of a woman with no makeup.

“So, naturally the challenge started in jest, until it became this viral trend as you see it today.”

She added: “I took some selfies at Mount Nyangani this holiday and shared my moment on social media.”

“This selfie was then taken by some online publications and placed next to another photo of me, but in full make-up with a professional photographer.

“The comparison of me with and without make-up had tasteless headlines and that is what inspired me to post myself bare-faced because perhaps there is an unfortunate and grave misconception that a woman is always made up at all hours of the day, be it on TV, on stage, in bed and on top of the mountain. I was inspired to show that we are all human and all flawed, not flawless.”

The award-winning media personality said women should not be afraid to be natural because of trolls and unrealistic standards, advising them that makeup should also not be used to misrepresent them.

She said the response from women on the challenge was overwhelming, adding that this should make men have realistic expectations of women.

“The amount of #RuvhenekoChallenge videos and selfies on social media platforms is innumerable,” she said.

“Women are mostly grateful for the confidence boost. Feedback from men has been colourful and I hope that they are past their ‘shock’ and they start having realistic expectations of women.

“I am not sure why they behave as though they do not have mothers, sisters, friends, wives or girlfriends who look different with or without make-up or weave and who look different before a snapchat filter and after. We are all human after all, so tichambo kuvhundutsai kusvika majaira.”

Several celebrities and socialites, including gospel musician Mai Patai, media personality Miss Red, beautician Leata Ncube, musician and actress Madam Boss, among others, took part in the challenge.

This is not the first time Parirenyatwa has launched a challenge. In 2015 she launched the #Red Chilli Challenge, which was aimed at raising funds to make blood transfusion accessible to financially disadvantaged patients.

Apart from being a media personality, Parirenyatwa is a brand ambassador and a philanthropist.