The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Sunday Life Reporter
NURSING and modelling has always been a preserve for females but over the years trends have changed and more men are entering the field. However, for two Bulawayo men, this is an area they have penetrated and are set to make great strides.
Tinashe and Tanaka Xaverio are 22-year-old Bulawayo-based twins who have challenged the status quo by doing all things considered feminine.
They are student nurses currently doing their internship at Mpilo Central Hospital. Asked on why they chose nursing they said they had the passion and wanted a different field of expertise.
“Initially we did Information Technology at the Bulawayo Polytechnic and we felt it was not enough so we decided to further our studies. We then decided we should go out of the box a little and we chose nursing,” said Tanaka.
He said they needed a new challenge totally different from what they had initially studied and they decided to take the nursing route which they said is what they really needed.
“With nursing we have learnt how to care for people differently, looking at their health conditions we treat them in different ways. The same applies in real life situations; we treat people differently according to their different characteristics,” said Tinashe.
The twins said they also chose nursing because as they grow older they want to be in a better position to care for themselves with the lessons learnt from nursing.
They further said it has been an eye-opening journey in the nursing field as they have learnt to put the life of another individual first and assist by nursing them to health.
On the modelling side they said they never really imagined doing it but it was just by chance that they entered the industry.
“We were travelling by bus last year in December and we were approached by a lady who asked us if were were interested in modelling because she saw that we had the qualities.
“We later went to her modelling agency A and M in Bulawayo and that is how we started modelling,” said Tanaka.
The Xaverio twins said they are now able to preach messages using their bodies. So far they have taken part in fashion shows, appeared on a music video and are on an art exhibition in Italy.
“We met a man who is a painter so he did our paintings and they are being showcased in Italy, which has been our biggest deal since we entered this field. We are grateful for the exposure,” they concurred.
The twins are looking at breaking in to the film industry as they feel that life behind the camera is an interesting mix to the other talents that they have. They said they are interested in advertising too as a way to expand their work.
The twins’ parents are currently based in Canada and are supportive of their career paths. They however, said the aspect of modelling may have rubbed off from their mother Memory Nhova who was a model when she was younger.
They said she even appeared on magazine covers in Zimbabwe in the 1980s.
They advised other youths to follow their dreams and stay away from taking shortcuts in life.
