Kiki Divaris

Vasilliki Babaletakis "Kiki" Divaris (c. 13 September 1925 in Sparta[1] – 5 December 2015) was a Greek fashion designer, model and the first white woman to have been declared a liberation war hero in Zimbabwe.

Early life

Divaris grew up in Cape Town.[2]

Career

Divaris was a close friend of Robert Mugabe, his first wife Sally, and current wife, Grace. She created the Miss Zimbabwe beauty pageant.[2] In 2012, at 88, she still ran the event.[3] In 2013, she handed over the Miss Zim business to Mary Mubaiwa.[4]

Death

Divaris died in her sleep on 5 December 2015, at the Borrowdale Clinic Trauma Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe, from pneumonia.[5] She was 90.

References
  1. "Zimbabwe: Kiki, Thank You but It's Time to Rest". Allafrica.com. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  2. Thornycroft, Peta (7 December 2015). "Greek model and beauty industry expert becomes liberation war hero in Zimbabwe". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  3. "I still have the capacity, says Kiki Divaris". Thestandard.co.zw. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  4. Sharon Muguwu (24 July 2013). "Miss Zim struggles to get contestants". Dailynezs.co.zw. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  5. Mugugunyeki, Moses (6 December 2015). "Kiki Divaris dies". The Standard. Retrieved 23 December 2015.


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