When a model steps onto the runway, the audience sees the finished product. What it may not see is the work that went into getting them there.
A designer has spent hours putting an outfit together. A photographer is waiting for the right shot. A choreographer has worked on the models’ movements, while organisers have been putting the show together behind the scenes.

These are the people who help bring a fashion show to life, and the Bulawayo Models Awards 2026 will give some of them an opportunity to receive recognition for their work.

Nominations opened on 19 October and will close on 30 November, with categories covering models, designers, photographers, agencies, pageant directors and other industry professionals.

While categories such as Model of the Year, Outstanding Male Model and Outstanding Female Model will attract attention, the awards also include Outstanding Model Photographer, Outstanding Pageant Choreographer, Best Pageant Director and Outstanding Modelling Shows MC.

That wider selection is worth noting. Modelling does not operate in isolation. A model may be the face of a campaign, but several other people contribute to the work that audiences eventually see.

Designers, too, have a role that goes beyond producing clothes. Their creations help establish the identity of a collection, while photographers capture the images that models and brands use to reach wider audiences.
The same applies to pageant directors and choreographers, whose planning and direction influence how contestants present themselves on stage.

For these professionals, recognition can matter just as much as it does for the models they work with. Their work forms part of the industry’s wider story, even when their names do not receive the same attention.

The awards also include a Most Supportive Company category, bringing businesses into the conversation about the people and organisations that help sustain modelling activities.
Nominations remain open until 30 November 2026. Entries can be submitted to bulawayomodels26@gmail.com