BIG, BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
Miss Plus Size Africa embarks on tourism project
The winner of the first-ever Miss Africa Plus Size Botswana, Refilwe Direng will embark on a conservation and environmental protection project dubbed, ‘Shoot photographs and not bullets,’ aimed at raising awareness on anti-poaching.
The project is focused on protecting rhinos, which are on the verge of extinction in Botswana. The second runners up LudoAugustine Matumo and Tumi Mpho-Balogi, who are first and second princess, respectively, will focus on an anti-rape campaign, and addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV), and personal branding - which targets school learners and helps them with affirming their self-actualisation. The crowning event of the pageant was held at Adansonia Hotel in Francistown, after months of public outreach and awareness campaigns across the country.
Organiser of the beauty pageant Kemo Tsotlhe Mozila said that they are pleased with the impact of the pageant particularly as they had raised public awareness on appreciating plus size women. “Mainstream beauty pageant are often organised for women who are slim and slender and we wanted women that are chubby and plus size to also have a chance to participate in beauty pageants and have the platform to showcase their beauty and talent,” she said. Mozila said that the pageant is aimed at inspiring and empowering intelligent, beautiful and curvy women in society and encouraging them to strive to be the best version of themselves. “It helps build the chubby women’s confidence and showcase their beauty. This is about women who are on the receiving end of negativity because of their body structure, sometimes from an early age. It sometimes takes courage, strength and sacrifice to build themselves and become better versions of who they are,” she said. The winner, Direng, will participate at Miss Plus Size Africa Botswana in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mozila said at least now people know that the pageant has credibility and impact in society. “We are sure that Batswana can see that this is legit. This pageant is a great platform to affirm women and encourage a more body positive image, and also create opportunities for them to take part in community projects that are beneficial to national development,” she said. Mozila said that she wants women to know that they are beautiful in their own way and accept their unique features. “Every woman is beautiful in their image and every person is unique. We are all born different in complexion, height, weight and physical features and should accept ourselves the way that we are. Being big does not mean that someone does not take care of themselves and one cannot be made to feel inferior based on body size. “Many women are often belittled based on their body size and made to feel unattractive and sexually unappealing or ugly based on personal preferences but this should be the least of these women’s problems. “The right type of people, who are respectful and kind, will love them as they are. But plus size women should love themselves first and accept themselves as they are first”, Mozila said. She further noted that women are often most body shamed and made to feel inferior because of their weight. “The culture of body shaming often leads to depression and stress among women which leads to unhealthy diets, which can affect their health negatively in the long-term,” she said. Mozila is a health practitioner by profession, a nurse and midwife, and she is also chubby, and tries to share the message that good health is not always linked to weight and that being fat does not always mean that someone is sedentary or sloth. She emphasised the need to prioritise fitness . “Everyone, regardless of body size, should strive to exercise regularly, eat healthy, drink water and avoid stress. Keeping your health in check is vital to good quality of life.”