In 2016, the vivacious, outspoken, highly favoured and forever smiling queen Patience “Pat” Phiri was a major talking point on social media when she posed for a racy, semi-nude photoshoot to celebrate her birthday.
Although she did it in the name of empowering other women through embracing one’s bodily flaws in a world that is fast losing the connotation of beauty to airbrushed superficiality and Instagram validation, the storyteller, creative entrepreneur, media personality and influencer received an unfair share of scathing insults from women that body-shamed her.
“When I did the first pictures, it was to celebrate my birthday as I was turning 35. It was to celebrate me and my journey in body positivity and finally, get to a place where I could say ‘it’s been a long walk, but I love me and this is who I am’. Also, I wanted to dispel that all women are skinny, they don’t have stretch marks or cellulite. It was to show that I’m confident with my body. I’ve got stretch marks, cellulite and my skin has like 6 000 patches of brown, I’m not flawless but I’m still beautiful,” Pat explained to Bongani Ndlovu of the Chronicle.
Six years later, she is still going unfettered and making splashes as well as lead the growing number of creatives propelling the body positivity movement forward, changing the face of fashion and defying the unrealistic expectations perpetuated by heavily retouched images with her confident and dynamic presence.
While I will forever remember (and philanders) her for her Naked Girls Reading theatre production that left me swooning, Queenie Pat has presented various shows on various platforms, chief among them, Queening with the Empress on Facebook. Of course, before this, she once hosted the hangout on On Skyz Metro FM and presented a ZBC production called the Chit Chat Show with Nyasha Mtamangira and Samantha Tshuma.
A classic stunner despite being a stone’s throw shy from hitting her quadragenarian, the plus-size personality is rarely seen making her way onto the runways but has had modelling stints where she featured in Jah Prayzah’s music video for Chikomo.
In her own words, Pat describes herself as proudly African, Zimbabwean and Bulawayoan, the three things that she says she embodies.
“I’m proudly African, Zimbabwean and Bulawayoan. I love my country and city and I try to learn as much as I can about where and who came before me, something that has made me fall in love with our culture, food, music and history,” she told Bongani Ndlovu of the Chronicle.
The personality who has been consistent with her doek look coupled with beads of sorts said her wardrobe reflects her African nature and culture. Bright colours such as red, pink and green are her favourite.
“Even my dressing tells that story that I’m not shy to be African, to be known that I cover my head as a sign of respect to my people and those around me. Also, to show that I respect the women that have gone before me and I want to honour them with iqhiye (head wrap) for a woman,” said Pat.
The common theme in the conversation with Pat is that she champions women and their rights. This, according to her, is what drives her.
“I pride myself that in a world that is always telling us as African women that we aren’t beautiful, great or not enough, when you look back in history, you’ll find that African women have a sense of royalty and beauty about them. I want to give young brown girls a voice and to remind them how beautiful they are and how in charge they are of their lives. They can direct how their lives go and they shouldn’t listen to nobody that tells them that they aren’t worthy, qualified or anything. My drive is to have women heard and take up their space in the sun. If there’s no space, they should open their arms and create their own space and be heard in the world. They must just stand up and lift each other.”
An extroverted introvert in her very nature, Pat says she is a person who prefers to keep to herself, take care of her plants and sit at home reading a book as it gives her time to reflect, relax, rethink and re-energise.
Resources: The Chronicle
Editorial: This month, #enthuse, through our #SheCreatesMarch feature series, celebrates the work of thirty-one Zimbabwean women creatives, the contributions and achievements they have made throughout history, culture, and society. The idea is to elevate visibility for commercial projects and commissions. Discover the work of avant-garde creatives who embody the spirit of the month by uplifting and empowering women. Representing diverse backgrounds and disciplines, these women share one thing in common: their dedication to supporting women and sharing their stories through art and creativity. We are thrilled to share their work. And this month is about them. #ChooseToChallenge
