Tanaka Nyawiri - bright and beautiful

10:21am Tuesday 29th April 2008

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She left her home five years ago to start a new life in a country very different to her own. But 16-year-old Tanaka Nyawiri tells Melanie Adams why she's determined to make the most of every opportunity coming to England has given her.

WORRIED and upset about leaving her home, 11-year-old Tanaka Nyawiri set off to start a new life thousands of miles from those she loved in a country that bore no similarities to her own.

Uprooting her young daughter from Zimbabwe and flying her to England was a tough decision for mum Hazvinei, knowing how difficult it could be settling in such an unknown and different culture.

But, just five years on, Tanaka has proved a surprising shining light for her mum, celebrating success in the classroom and on the catwalk, while raising the profile of her Afro-Caribbean heritage.

Wearing her sash proudly around college, the 16-year-old basks in the adulation of her friends after being crowned Miss ACS 2008 at a glittering fashion event in Southampton.

The out-going Barton Peveril student definitely has a bright future ahead of her, with hopes of taking her tiara to the next level and ambitions on becoming a barrister.

Tanaka said: "I love modelling but that is my Plan B, because nothing is guaranteed.

"I really want to become a barrister.

"Coming to England has given me sos many more opportunities that I want to make the most of all of them."

It is a future that her mum could only have dreamt of when making the risky decision to fly Tanaka and her son Malvein, then aged five, to live with her in Romsey.

At the age of eight, Tanaka's dad died in a car accident, leaving her mum to support the young family.

Two years later her mum moved to the UK to work as a nurse, while Tanaka stayed in Zimbabwe and attended boarding school.

But with hopes of providing more opportunities for her children in England, Hazvinei Kachidza flew them over amid worries about how they would settle in.

Hazvinei said: "When I took the decision to bring them to England I was worried and so was she.

"She didn't want to leave her home and we were worried about how she would cope with the different cultures, because everything is so different. But she adapted with everything so quickly.

Tanaka added: "At the beginning it was difficult because the cultures are so different but everyone was so welcoming, open minded and understanding that I grew to love it here.

"I still miss everything about home though, my family are there and that is where my dad is buried, so I like to go back and visit his grave and remember the great times we had with him there.

"I want to go back this year, but because of the political situation at the moment it has completely changed."

Now with her sights firmly set on completing her A-Levels and studying law at University, Tanaka hopes to continue her modelling as a way of raising awareness for African charities.

Her next step will be to compete in Miss Africa UK next month before taking part in the biggest competition in Afro-Caribbean society, Miss Malaika.

"I think this is a great opportunity to represent black and African Caribbean's, all the different cultures and put that at the forefront for people to recognise.

"I get the best of both worlds really. Enjoying both the traditional culture of Zimbabwe to remind me of home and the more modern English culture which is great because I love the fashions.

"I am looking to raise more awareness for charities and all the work going on to help solve the problems in Africa.

"Usually my mum is not into beauty things and wants me to focus on school but she was just so proud and said that I can do whatever I want."

Her mum added: "I am really proud and very relieved that she did not turn out like a lot of the children from Africa do when they move here, who get all excited about these new opportunities open to them and take the wrong route.

"She just continues to surprise me. She is a shining light. Everything she puts her mind to is a success."