Botswana Guardian

Chasing the crown

Top 10 hopefuls unveiled ahead of Miss Botswana finale

- POTLAKO BOGATSU BG REPORTER

Miss Botswana has unveiled the top 10 finalists ahead of the grand finale of the prestigiou­s beauty pageant in October.

At the unveiling ceremony, Miss Botswana Director, Benjamin Raletsatsi revealed that he is bullish about the future of the biggest pageantry in Botswana.

“The theme for this year’s Miss Botswana is that we are winning Miss World.” Raletsatsi explained that they believe the beauty industry has a lot of untapped potential in Botswana. Raletsatsi confidentl­y said that the beauty industry’s value chain can employ the whole nation. He explained that the Miss Botswana competitio­n is a tool that they are using to unearth the commercial value of the beauty industry in Botswana. “We set a five year plan that wanted to see the beauty pageant competitio­n being respected locally,” furthermor­e, Raletsatsi seeks to diversify the local economy by exporting beauty queens who will enter the acting world and make up business industry in other countries.

Raletsatsi explains that they have the rights to host the 73rd Miss World in Botswana. He explains that the competitio­n is a job creator, and it empowers the girl child and boosts local tourism. This year’s Miss Botswana competitio­n will be held differentl­y as it will be an outdoor event on the 22nd of October at Mo’café. There will be a beauty exhibition a few days before the grand finale. Raletsatsi notes that its basic purpose is to discuss with players in the beauty industry about how they can leverage the potential of the local beauty industry. The top ten finalists are Tshepo Nthaga, Alipo Makosha, Cheshe Tsayang, Sebaga Manyapetsa, Lesego Chombo, Goitsemodi­mo Sejai, Lorato Kgangyapel­o, Gontlafets­e Oagile, Lesego Sejai, and Cynthia Kalayakgos­i. The five ladies who did not make it to the top 10 have been sponsored by Boitekanel­o College to study entreprene­urship courses.

Raletsatsi urged them not to despair but look at this time as a golden opportunit­y to use what they have learned in the competitio­n as they carve out their futures.

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