Mister and Miss Beauty with Albinism returns
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday May 3, 2019 12:54
It will keep to its main objective of raising awareness on albinism, reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with albinism, but also promises to be bigger and better.
Botswana’s pageantry president, Phildelphia Motlaiile said the pageant was open to all persons with albinism of different ages, body size and status.
She explained that unlike the previous year, they have included males in the pageantry.
Motlaiile said even though every country has people with albinism, it seems like they are not gaining the recognition they deserve just like any other person.
She added that it is like they are non-existent.
She said in other countries, people with albinism are killed for ritual activities. She said she hoped to see people shy away from bad practices against those living with albinism. She added that people with albinism had abilities and some were even successful.
She gave an example of Thando Hopa, a successful lawyer and household model in South Africa. She said some of their participants said they aspired to win big titles such as Miss Universe.
“Unlike last year, we have attracted a great number of people with albinism including males. We have seen many tertiary graduates; people who are working and others coming on board.
We have so far received messages from our various social media platforms indicating that they want to advocate for albinism and inspire fellow people with albinism,” she said.
She also called on potential sponsors to come on board. She said she was hoping that they could get a sponsor who will support their bootcamp so that they increase the days from three to five day.
Motlaiile called on professionals from different walks of life such as psychologists, counsellors, motivational speakers, life coaches and others to come on board.
“Getting sponsors is not easy. We are affected by a lot of issues such as skin cancer, eye problems and others. Some of us do not do well in academics because we do not have access to spectacles. We need price tags for consolations, bootcamp venue, food, transport, sunscreens, gowns and others,” she said.
Motlaiile said the winners would represent the country in October at the upcoming Mr and Miss Albinism African in Zimbabwe.
She added that they were hoping that Botswana would host Mr and Miss Albinism World in 2020 as part of the initiative to give people with albinism exposure and acceptance. Tickets are sold at P100 for standard, P150 for double and P250 for VIP.