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. 1 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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