THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL

IN a glittering ceremony held at Royal Aria in Tlokweng on the 23rd of March, Anicia Tebogo Gaothusi snatched the fiercely contested Miss Botswana 2024 title after beating nine other contestants who vied for the coveted crown.

The 22-year-old, Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) student at Gaborone University College of Law and Professional Studies (GUC) is expected to represent the country at the 72nd edition of Miss World competition. Although dates for the world pageant are yet to be announced, Gaothusi has a mammoth task ahead of her as she replaces Lesego Chombo, who performed exceptionally well to clinch the Miss World Africa title in the 71st edition three weeks back.

Despite winning the national title for the first time during her first attempt, the Tutume native is no stranger to pageantry as she previously won the Miss Teen Botswana title in 2019. With the accolade earning her a participation at the Miss Teen International in India, Gurugram, Gaothusi only managed a second runnerup position. Fast forward to 2024, Gaothusi’s predecessor, Chombo, was well-placed in the top 4, which means the slim, baby-faced queen has big boots to fill.

Congratulations on being crowned Miss Botswana! How does it feel to hold such a prestigious title?

I was filled with joy and disbelief because, as much as I have imagined that day where Chombo will pass the crown over to me, it still felt so unreal but, of course, it’s a joyful moment, which I have to embrace; it’s a new life, new chapter. Now, I’m not living for myself but for Batswana, so it’s a lot to take in.

When did your love for pageants start?

I grew up as a shy child, reserved and more of a tomboy until I met this one friend of mine at Bonnington Junior Secondary School in Form 2. She was interested in pageantry and she recruited me and we registered ourselves together as a friendship goal, that’s when my spark of understanding pageantry started. I became confident and realised that pageantry is not only about physical beauty but also about your contribution to the community. In 2019, I went for Miss Teen, where I learnt a lot and underwent rigorous of training to represent Botswana at international level. Years later, I tried Miss Botswana and here I am with the crown and I have to represent Botswana again at a bigger platform, globally.