GLAMOUR OF GRANDEUR Miss Botswana to dazzle in a P70m diamond neckpiece at Miss World finale
MISS World Botswana, Lesego Chombo, will be draped in Messika’s iconic 110 carat diamond necklace named Akh-ba-ka valued at an estimated P70 million at the 71st Miss World pageant in India this weekend.
The announcement made by Lucara Botswana Managing Director, Naseem Lahri, in partnership with Miss Botswana Director, Benjamin Raletsatsi, highlights the massive support that Lucara Botswana has extended towards Chombo in her journey to bring the Miss World title home.
Speaking on the world renowned neckpiece, Lahri said, “The rough diamond was mined by Lucara Botswana at Karowe Mine and sold in 2020 to Messika. It was a 110 carat stone that was produced into 15 polished stones including a 33 carat pendant that she will be wearing on the night of the pageant.” She noted the significance of the neckpiece being that it is a Botswana rough diamond that will be worn by a Motswana on a global stage in an effort to bring a historic Miss World title home to Botswana. “It brings the pride of Botswana because we are the largest producers of diamonds and we get to display our diamonds worn by a product of our diamonds in Lesego Chombo.”
For his part, Miss Botswana Director, Benjamin Raletsatsi, emphasised that Lesego Chombo’s success thus far is part of the organisation’s strategic plan. “We started with a 5- year-plan. We took a brand that went through a lot of turbulence. We have taken the pageant out of the city before, we set the foundation with Palesa Molefe by making the right noise. Now, by year four and five, we want to win Miss World and show the world we are capable of hosting the pageant.”
Chombo will now join an elite list of names that have adorned ‘Akh-ba-ka’ such as Beyonce, Naomi Campbell and Kendall Jenner.