Mison Sere smiles after winning the 2015 edition of the Mr Ugly competition, in Harare, Saturday, Nov. 21.2015. Sere who controversially dethroned former Mr Ugly William Masvinu to scoop the top prize of $500 in a contest marked by allegations of cheating

Contestants stand on stage, during the 2015 edition of the Mr Ugly competition, in Harare, Saturday, Nov. 21.2015

Mison Sere reacts, top, after winning the 2015 edition of the Mr Ugly competition, in Harare, Saturday, Nov. 21.2015

In this Nov. 13, 2015 file photo, Zimbabwe's three-times Mr Ugly winner William Masvinu poses for a photo in Harare. Pageant judges have crowned a new winner of Zimbabwes 4th annual Mister Ugly contest, upsetting supporters of the crowd favorite and prompting rioting at the event. Judges on Saturday, Nov. 21 chose 42-year-old Milton Sere, citing his numerous missing front teeth and a wide range of grotesque facial expressions, over Masvinu, who had held the title since 2012

Mison Sere smiles after winning the 2015 edition of the Mr Ugly competition, in Harare, Saturday, Nov. 21.2015. Sere who controversially dethroned former Mr Ugly William Masvinu to scoop the top prize of $500 in a contest marked by allegations of cheating

Pageant judges have crowned a new winner of Zimbabwe's fourth annual "Mister Ugly" contest - upsetting supporters of the crowd favourite and prompting rioting at the event.

Judges on Saturday chose 42-year-old Mison Sere, citing his numerous missing front teeth and a wide range of grotesque facial expressions, over William Masvinu, who has held the title since 2012.

Expand Close In this Nov. 13, 2015 file photo, Zimbabwe's three-times Mr Ugly winner William Masvinu poses for a photo in Harare. Pageant judges have crowned a new winner of Zimbabwes 4th annual Mister Ugly contest, upsetting supporters of the crowd favorite and prompting rioting at the event. Judges on Saturday, Nov. 21 chose 42-year-old Milton Sere, citing his numerous missing front teeth and a wide range of grotesque facial expressions, over Masvinu, who had held the title since 2012 AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp In this Nov. 13, 2015 file photo, Zimbabwe's three-times Mr Ugly winner William Masvinu poses for a photo in Harare. Pageant judges have crowned a new winner of Zimbabwes 4th annual Mister Ugly contest, upsetting supporters of the crowd favorite and prompting rioting at the event. Judges on Saturday, Nov. 21 chose 42-year-old Milton Sere, citing his numerous missing front teeth and a wide range of grotesque facial expressions, over Masvinu, who had held the title since 2012

Masvinu and his supporters mobbed the judges upon hearing their decision, claiming that Sere was "too handsome" to win and his ugliness was not natural since it was based on missing teeth.

Masvinu, gesturing at his rival, claimed: "I am naturally ugly. He is not. He is ugly only when he opens his mouth."

Expand Close Mison Sere reacts, top, after winning the 2015 edition of the Mr Ugly competition, in Harare, Saturday, Nov. 21.2015 AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mison Sere reacts, top, after winning the 2015 edition of the Mr Ugly competition, in Harare, Saturday, Nov. 21.2015

"Do we have to lose our teeth to win? This is cheating," shouted another contestant, Patrick Mupereki.

While no-one was injured in the scuffle, there was a great deal of pushing and shoving as the results were announced and insults were hurled at the judges.

Expand Close Mison Sere smiles after winning the 2015 edition of the Mr Ugly competition, in Harare, Saturday, Nov. 21.2015. Sere who controversially dethroned former Mr Ugly William Masvinu to scoop the top prize of $500 in a contest marked by allegations of cheating AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mison Sere smiles after winning the 2015 edition of the Mr Ugly competition, in Harare, Saturday, Nov. 21.2015. Sere who controversially dethroned former Mr Ugly William Masvinu to scoop the top prize of $500 in a contest marked by allegations of cheating

Sere dismissed the critics as just "sore losers" as he pocketed the 500 US dollar prize.

"They should just accept that I am uglier than them," he said, adding that he makes his living showcasing his ugliness to local schoolchildren in his neighbourhood on the outskirts of the capital, Harare.

Expand Close Former Mr Ugly William Masvinu, second left, stands on stage during the Mr Ugly competition, in Harare, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Former Mr Ugly William Masvinu, second left, stands on stage during the Mr Ugly competition, in Harare, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015

The complaints of Masvinu and the other contestants may have a degree of validity. Organisers had previously announced that disabilities or enhancements would not be accepted in the competition, which should focus on "natural ugliness".

Pageant organiser David Machowa originally told reporters that he began the contest to remove the stigma of ugliness.

He maintained: "Looks are God-given. We should all be proud of who we are."

The pageant involved three rounds of modelling, with individual and group struts down a catwalk of a Harare nightclub.

"Sere made tremendous effort to enhance his ugliness by pulling facial stunts," said judge Abigail Mataranyika, a university student.

"Masvinu thought he is so ugly that he didn't need to try hard. That cost him the crown."

This year's competition attracted a record number of 36 entries, compared to just five in 2012 when Masvinu began his winning streak.

The competition was suspended in 2014 due to a lack of sponsorship, but this year the owners of a string of Harare nightclubs donated 1,000 US dollars

Online Editors