Miss Teen International Botswana search nears
Spira Tlhankane | Friday March 29, 2019 14:36
The winner will represent Botswana at Miss Teen International in India in December.
The organiser of the pageant Michelle Ashley told Arts & Culture that the newly introduced pageant is open to girls between 13 and 18 years of age. “We don’t take 19 because by December most would have turned 20,” she emphasised.
She said they came up with the idea of the pageant after thorough research on the history of pageants in Botswana. Ashley added that there are not a lot of pageants that help build the girl child at the same time developing the community.
“All the 30 contestants are currently carrying out projects in their home villages to help better their communities. With other pageants they normally have one queen doing projects so we are bringing something new,” she revealed.
She said the Miss Teen International Botswana team brings in a lot of experience such as Miss Botswana 2017 Nicole Gaelebale who owns a school called Diamond Pageantry Academy. Ashley was also quick to say that they want to inspire the young girls and help them improve their communities. She further said that the queen would win a cash prize of P10,000, tuition and outfits worth more than P10,000.
“She will also get mentorship from the Diamond Pageantry Academy to prepare her for the world stage,” she said. She also mentioned that so far they do not have sponsors who have put out money, but they depend on people who offer their services such as Studio 24.
“They have been filming everything from auditions till now. We also have Lion Park Resort, Levdin Marketing Consultancy, The Makeover Place, Brilliant Minds Academy and Platinum Ink,” she said.
Ashley, however, said that they still need sponsors to come on board.
“We started auditions last year around October in Gaborone, Francistown, Palapye and Mahalapye. Prior to the auditions, we had talent competitions amongst the top 30 so the top six will perform on the finale and the winner will automatically qualify for the top 12. We will also have project presentation and the winner will make it to top 5,” she said.
Tickets for the finale are sold at P250 each.