MISS BOTSWANA RETURNS WITH A TWIST
Beauty pageant launch set for Friday
While it looked, in all likelihood, Miss Botswana would endure a second year without a pageant, organisers have hastily announced the show will in fact go on.
The latest instalment of the biggest beauty competition in the land will be launched this Friday under the theme ‘Unearthing a New Jewel’.
Organisers have promised an exciting new facelift which they are confident will give the event a boost following a recent dip in popularity.
Speaking to Voice Entertainment this week, Miss Botswana spokesperson, Pauline Dikuelo, confirmed despite inevitable hurdles things are finally falling into place.
“We are happy to announce that the Miss Botswana pageant is back this year. Obviously because of Covid-19 restrictions and guidelines, things will be a little different but we are starting the journey this Friday with a launch to be held right here in the capital city,” declared an upbeat Dikuelo.
Unlike in previous years, travel constraints mean the team will not leave their Gaborone base to hold auditions around the country.
Instead, prospective beauty queens must submit an audition tape. More details on this will be announced at Friday’s launch.
The judges will then skittle down the field, selecting the best from the rest as they pick their top 30.
“This time around there is a little interesting twist to the pageant which we hope will motivate and once again reignite interest in the Miss Botswana brand. Most of the information will be revealed on Friday but I can tell you that public interest and following will increase with this small detail that will keep Batswana glued to their screens as they follow the Miss Botswana journey. This time Batswana will not just see the pageant on the last day as has been the norm,” teased Dikuelo.
As for the theme, Dikuelo explained it is aligned to the country’s vision.
“Now is the time for Botswana to look beyond minerals as our sense and source of wealth. The new Miss Botswana represents this shift to intellectual currency - it is the face of a new age, new energy and new future. Not only will the Miss Botswana winner be the face of this transformation but the force behind it, too!”
The grand finale is scheduled for 23rd October, where, after a two-year reign, Miss Botswana 2019, Oweditswe Phirinyane, will hand the crown over to a new queen. Phirinyane’s successor will then represent the nation at the 70th edition of Miss World, expected to take place in Puerto Rico on 16th December.
sharonm@thevoicebw.com @sharonmathala