Confident Mariri vows to clinch Miss Universal International in US
Dumisani Ncube | Friday July 10, 2015 16:50
Meet Supermodel One Mariri, who never lost patience and hope as she finally grabbed the crown that she had always wanted – the 2014 Miss Universal Petite Botswana.
Next week she will be representing Botswana and Africa at the Miss Universal Petite International in Miami, United States at. The 23-year-old starlet ventured into the modeling industry at a tender age after competing in beauty pageants at primary school.
“My sister was a model and as time went on I fell in love with it. I received my first crown when I was 10 years old at Pilane primary school,” said Mariri.
After that it was all systems go for Mariri who excelled in modeling as well as participating in different pageants throughout her childhood in Pilane where she grew up till she was a young adult.
Around 2012 it was time to challenge for the big leagues, hence she ventured into professional pageantry.
Her first attempt that year saw her take the second spot in all the pageants she participated in. These were the Miss ABM 2012, Miss My News 2012 and Miss World Tourism Botswana.
At this stage, swelling numbers of detractors kept asking why she was not quitting in order to focus on something else since she was just taking the second spot and not winning any titles.
“I come a long way with pageants and I got position two in most pageants, but I still tried time and again because I knew I had a goal to achieve which is an international stage,” stated the 1. 67 m tall supermodel who only focuses on beauty pageants.
It was only last year when Mariri was crowned Miss Petite Botswana which was her major achievement in all the wins that she has had in her life as a model.
But the win also came with its challenges, like when she struggled to find sponsors that could bankroll her trip to Miami for the international beauty contest. Actually, a number of organisations and individuals showed Mariri the door when she came knocking. It took her a full year to acquire sponsors that can help her with this trip to Miami and other related necessities.
“I worked hard for this crown and the rejections are not going to stop me from achieving my dream of representing my beautiful country,” she crooned determinedly.
To date she has more than 10 sponsors that are tripping over each other to take her the United States city. Mariri who is the only African Model that will be participating at the international pageant in Miami is confident that she will make the country and the continent proud by winning the crown.
“The main focus is the crown, I am confident I’ll get it. I am doing my best,” she stated. Mariri departs for Miami this coming Tuesday and the pageant will take place two days later.
Apart from pageants Mariri has appeared in a number of print and electronic adverts such for organisations such as Botswana Telecommunications Corporations (BTC).