Zimbabwe's representative to the Miss World pageant Vanessa Sibanda has stepped up her campaign to break the 1994 record in the history of ageantry.

In 1994, Angeline Hundah nee Musasiwa was a hit. Then, a University of Zimbabwe student, Angie as she was popularly known, finished fourth in the Miss World pageant won by India's Bollywood actress Aishwarya Bachaan nee Rai, The Herald reported on Monday.

So smart was Angie that more often than not, she was associated with the phrase "beauty with brains".

Since that year, Zimbabwean beauties have been trying to rewrite the history books with little or no success.

"I'm doing my best to prepare for the pageant, it's the biggest in the whole world followed by the Miss Universe. There are a lot of people who are helping me. Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is also helping me financially and Model Management, my agency who are helping to improve my speech presentation and catwalk," Vanessa said.

"Last, but not least, the media who have supported me since the day I was crowned Miss Zimbabwe. I'm really grateful for their support and encouragement," she said.

She is warming herself up to the crunchy contest in all five titles that are held in the run up to the grand finale.

The five are Miss Bikini, Miss Talent, Miss Top Model, Miss Sport and Beauty with a Purpose.

This, she said, would enhance her chances of bringing the crown home or at least write her own piece of history.

"Whoever comes top in the five categories, gets to qualify for the top 50 but the winner in the Beauty with a Purpose would make it into the top five and last year it was won by Miss Trinidad and Tobago," she said.

Vanessa is comfortable in the three titles Miss Bikini, Miss Top Model (given to any one with beautiful body) and Beauty with a Purpose that is given to any contestant with a track record for charity work.

She fits well in that category as she has been out and about making donations and being a source of inspiration to underprivileged children and the sick.

"Through talking to different people and organizations, I managed to raise foodstuffs, stationery and blankets among others. The donations came from Croco Motors, Pinnacle Property Holdings, Ekhaya Petroleum, Namibian Embassy and the Greek Society."

"I worked with orphanages and several old people's homes among them Mutare Home of Hope, orphanage in Zimunya, Hwahwa Young Offenders in Gweru, Chiedza Child Care Centre and Upenyu Hutsva Children's home in Harare," Vanessa said.

She also took children from Maunganidze Orphanage on a tour of the Lion and Cheetah Park in Harare as part of efforts to promoting domestic tourism.

Given that Vanessa repeats her scintillating dances she exhibited in the run up to the Miss Zimbabwe, she stands a chance to make it in the Miss Talent contest and win a ticket into the top 50.

But that would not be history in the making, as she has to put her shoulders to the wheel to win the Beauty with a Purpose title to increase her chances of making it to the top three and beat Angie.

"I have since engaged a choreographer to perfect my dances as well as keeping myself fit for different races. I'm also getting tips from previous representatives -- Loraine Maphala (Miss Zimbabwe 2005) and Cynthia Muvirimi (Miss Zimbabwe 2007).

Vanessa's major success was when she travelled to Berlin in Germany, where she undertook to market Zimbabwe at the International Tourism Bourse.

"Hardly a month after our visit to Germany, all the travel warnings against Zimbabwe were lifted by that country. That was the most rewarding experience as much as exposure," she said.